Letters: Respect for MPs at a historic low

Sir: If this government and its party believe in the free market, their attitude to MPs' pay (reports, 11 July) is rather odd. The question must be asked: is there a shortage of people wishing to become MPs, that they need a pay rise to attract more? I think not.

If the Tory party believes they need more money to attract higher-calibre candidates then who are we to argue? But not out of public funds. Local pay is the answer. Each MP could negotiate an element of local pay funded by their constituency party or association, on top of a national 2 per cent rise.

ROGER HANCOCKS

Worksop,

Nottinghamshire