By Ned Simons - 3rd June 2011
public doesn't recognise an MP has a personal life, so unsympathetic
Anonymous MP
More than half of the new MPs elected in 2010 took a pay cut to enter Parliament, a report published today revealed.
The study by the Hansard Societyfound that 56 per cent of those elected in May earn less than they did in their previous career and almost one third (31 per cent) have taken a pay cut of £30,000 or more.
For just 13 per cent of new MPs their £65,738 salary represented an increase of £30,000 or more, which, according to Hansard, means that 87 per cent previously earned more than the London average wage of £33,380.1.
Six per cent of the MPs elected in May saw their salary stay the same.
The 2010 general election saw the largest turnover of MPs since 1997, with 232 new MPs elected .
According to the report new Conservative MPs on average earned more than their Labour opponents prior to election, with 65 per cent of Tories taking a pay cut compared to 39 per cent of Labour MPs.
Strikingly, while 45 per cent of newly elected Tories were earning £30,000 or more before they became MPs just 11 per cent of Labour MPs were on a similarly high wage.
Hansard also found that new MPs work on average 67 hours a week or more which they believe seriously damages their family life. Responses from MPs to their survey include "personal life? It's devastating" and "Thank goodness my wife is supportive and I have no children. I have virtually no life of my own now".
One MP lamented: "public doesn't recognise an MP has a personal life, so unsympathetic".
The Commons recently voted to turn down a one per cent pay increase recommended by the independent regulator which sets their pay.
Responsibility for setting MPs salaries has since passed to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) which is unlikely to reassure MPs who despise the expenses watchdog for its apparent bureaucratic approach, including one anonymous MP who told Hansard: "If I'd known about Ipsa beforehand I would not have stood".
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