MPs accept below-inflation pay increase of 1.9 per cent

MPs bowed to a call for wage restraint as they accepted a staged pay deal worth 1.9 per cent.

The Commons agreed to the Prime Minister's call for discipline without a vote a a day after 25,000 police officers marched in London in protest at the decision to stage their own pay award.

It keeps the MPs' pay rise below the Government's inflation target of 2 per cent. Gordon Brown had urged MPs to ignore the 2.56 per cent rise recommended by the independent Senior Salaries Review Board.

Yesterday's deal will increase MPs' salary to £61,820. It could also be the last time they get to vote on their own pay increase as a review of parliamentary salaries in the summer is likely to report that MPs' pay should be linked to that of senior civil servants.

Harriet Harman, the Leader of the Commons, told the chamber: "As MPs are paid out of the public purse, we should show the same discipline in terms of pay increases as other public sector workers. Like everyone else – we should not decide on our own pay and shouldn't be voting on our own pay increases."

However, MPs backed an increase of up to £10,000 a year in their allowances to pay for office staff. Recommendations on their other allowances will be referred to the Commons estimates committee.

Theresa May, the shadow Leader of the Commons, said: "At a time when others in the public sector are forced to exercise restraint, this House should also show restraint."