Downing Street this morning backed a Cabinet Minster’s attack on the body proposing a £7,000 pay hike for MPs, as a leading Tory backbencher vowed to take the increase.
Appearing on BBC Question Time last night, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said she was “fed up” with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa).
The authority is recommending the basic wage of MPs rises by 10%, to £74,000, but several high-profile politicians have vowed to give the extra money to charity.
Tory MP Charles Walker today told The Huffington Post UK critics of Ipsa, which was set up in the wake of the 2009 expenses scandal, want to “have their cake and eat it”.
Last night, Ms Greening said: "Personally I think that we do need to sort out what is happening with Ipsa because how anyone can think that this kind of proposal is acceptable is utterly beyond me."
“I am really fed up that yet again Ipsa make a totally inappropriate proposal on MPs salaries. They're in charge of making the right proposal and they have got it wrong.”
This morning, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokeswoman said Mr Cameron shared his colleague’s frustration.
She said: “He is not the one proposing this increase; he is the one opposing it and I think the views being expressed by the Development Secretary last night are fully in line with the PM, that they don’t think the pay increase is the right approach and Ipsa should be listening to the views put forward.”
Ipsa initially revealed it was considering increasing the pay of MPs in December 2013 and has now put out its final recommendations for consultation.
Earlier this week it was confirmed Mr Cameron would take the increase if that was Ipsa’s final decision, but yesterday a Number 10 source told The Huffington Post UK the Prime Minister will be writing to the body to reiterate his objection to the rise.
Labour leadership candidates Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall have all said they will either reject the rise or give it to charity.
Mr Walker, Tory MP for Broxbourne, expressed his frustration with MPs ignoring the recommendations of an independent body.
He said: “The irritation comes in when it’s perceived that some colleagues are grand standing if they are in a stronger financial position to do so.”