Tory MP Philip Davies has rejected the idea that paying MPs more money will drive up standards.
Mr Davies was reacting to reports today that MPs are set to receive a pay rise – pushing their wages close to £93,000 a year.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Davies said MPs didn’t enter politics for the money – and that those pushing for massive salaries for politicians were missing the point.
He told GB News: “It’s always been my view ever since I got into parliament that pay should be set independently and should have nothing to do with us. It does have nothing to do with us. And if people don’t think what’s been proposed is right, they should make their views to IPSA. They’re the ones who made the decision. Don’t take it out on us.
“I’m perfectly content with whatever they decide. I will not be belly aching if they say it should be 2% 3% 4% – I will not be belly aching about what the decision is. I will accept it whatever it is.
“What I will say is I think there is a bit of a myth and I’ve never accepted the argument that if you pay MPs more you will get better MPs. I don’t accept that.
“I think many of us would have been better off staying in our jobs in the private sector. When we went into Parliament. We didn’t come in for the pay and I don’t think you want people coming in for the pay to be perfectly honest.
“I think you want people coming in because they want to because it’s public service and they want to do the right thing. And I think the things that deter people from becoming members of parliament is not the pay.
“I think it’s the abuse you get on social media. So I am not one of those MPs who thinks that if you increase the pay, you’ll get better MPs on the back of it.”
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