Hastings and Rye MP joins calls for MPs’ pay rise freeze

She added her name to a letter signed by Dehenna Davison, Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland, which has been sent to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

The letter, addressed to Richard Lloyd OBE, interim chairman of IPSA, has the names of more than 50 MPs on it, Mrs Hart’s being one of them.

It calls for a three per cent pay rise for MPs to be scrapped this year and for their salaries to be frozen next year.

The IPSA is the body responsible for setting MPs’ pay.

The Bishop Auckland MP’s letter said: “This year has been a year like no other with the whole nation making huge sacrifices to control the coronavirus, protect the NHS, and save lives.

“To support people’s jobs and livelihoods, the Government has introduced unprecedented measures, totalling £200 billion.

“But at such a time, where the Government may be asking for restraint elsewhere, we believe it is neither appropriate nor justifiable to be awarding MPs pay rises.

“When so many of our constituents are facing uncertainty, it is only right that we help shoulder the burden.”

Mrs Hart said: “There has been a lot of talk recently of Members of Parliament being in line for a pay rise in the coming weeks, and I want to make my position absolutely clear on this.

“I do not believe MPs should receive a pay rise, and if the independent body, IPSA, approves such a pay rise I will be donating it to local charities and good causes.

“Earlier this week I signed a letter with other colleagues in Parliament to IPSA, asking them to not allow the pay rise to go ahead.

“We believe at a time of a global health pandemic, when we are asking a lot individuals and businesses to sacrifice so much, it would be completely wrong for MPs to get a pay rise.

“I hope that IPSA will listen to the call from MPs to halt this pay rise.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has this week also urged the IPSA not to go ahead with its recommended increase in MPs’ pay.

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