MPs defy Major and vote for 26% rise

BRITISH MPs last night faced the wrath of public opinion after they defied the Prime Minister

BRITISH MPs last night faced the wrath of public opinion after they defied the Prime Minister. Mr John Major, and voted themselves a hefty 26 per cent inflation busting pay rise.

The Commons voted by 279 votes to 154 in favour of accepting the full recommendations of Senior Salaries Review Board for a £9,000 a year increase.

In an earlier vote, they rejected the government's proposal for an across the board rise of 3 per cent for ministers and MPs by 317 to 168.

The vote means that ministers also will get big rises after the general election with the occupant of to Downing Street receiving £143,000 a £60,000 increase.

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Although Labour leader, Mr Tony Blair, and the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Mr Paddy Ashdown, had joined Mr Major in urging restraint, the vote was seen as a particularly bitter blow for the prime minister.

With the payroll vote of ministers, whips and their parliamentary aides voting for 3 per cent, many Tory MPs were furious with the government for leaving it to backbenchers to push through the rise and bear the brunt of public anger.

"This proves the government is totally out of step with the mood of the House," said Tory MP for Luton North, Mr John Carlisle, following the vote.

"It has emerged from this very sorry spectacle with a very bloody nose and must never make the same mistake again."

Tory MP, Mrs Edwina Currie, who had earlier accused the government of "cowardice", said the way some ministers had voted amounted to "humbug".

"I feel very happy tonight. The House has put its foot down. MPs, by and large, are sick and tired of being ripped off and slagged off," she said.

"Many are willing to serve again. They do not do it because of the salary but because they care for the Commons and care about the country."

And there was some anger, too, about the reduction in the mileage allowance.

Mr Ken Maginnis, Ulster Unionist MP for Fermanagh and Tyrone, said. "For those of us who have to motor 30,000 miles a year we have lost £2,000 on this deal."

And Mr Alex Salmond leader of the Scottish National Party pointed out that the three main party leaders had managed to assemble only 168 supporters in the first vote. "What test of moral authority is that?" he asked.

And he added. "The Commons have made a major mistake tonight and have misjudged the mood of the country."

Leader of the Commons, Mr Tony Newton, had led the government's call for restraint. He tried to tempt backbenchers into backing the prime minister in agreeing a 3 per cent pay rise by offering a thinly disguised deal.

If they did, he said, the government would not be pressing for big cuts in generous car mileage allowances to be implemented.

But the tactic seemed to backfire when Tory MP, Mr John Carlisle, a car dealer, warned. "This blackmail tactic of one against the other is totally unacceptable."

He said that if a 74p a mile rate was removed quickly it would cause "distress and financial hardship" to MPs who had purchased larger cars.

Mr Newton said. "The question that the House has to answer, like the Government, is whether it can ask restraint of others without exercising restraint itself."