Assembly members look set to get a £10,000 pay rise despite widespread criticism of the proposal, first announced in November.
The chair of the independent Remuneration Board said they were sticking by the decision to increase backbenchers pay from £54,000 to £64,000 – up 18.5%.
Chair Sandy Blair said the rise is due to an increase in AM’s responsibilities due to more devolution.
She said: “Our draft package reflects the fact that after the 2016 election, the National Assembly will be a very different institution to what it has been previously. It will have law-making, tax-setting and borrowing powers like those of the UK and Scottish parliaments.
“It is the Remuneration Board’s duty to ensure that a package of financial support is in place which encourages the best people to put their names forward for the role of Assembly Member and that support is available so that elected Members to deliver their responsibilities effectively for the people of Wales.
“Our package is an investment in Welsh democracy – in the capacity and quality of the Assembly so that it is fit for purpose as more powers are devolved.”
South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle said: “This increase is being proposed by an Independent Remuneration Panel and not by Assembly Members themselves It is too substantial an increase and impossible to defend.
“I think Assembly Members are paid enough. It is a good job, it is a privilege to do the job and the current pay level is enough as far as I’m concerned.
“I understand that the panel is trying to accept the highest calibre people to the National Assembly but a £10,000 cannot be justified.”
Pay rise due to “more devolution”, what do Assembly members campaign for, that’s right “More devolution.” Of course because of this the poor lambs are overworked and they need to have another 20 of them.
Regarding quality of intake it is political parties that choose who stands for election. The quality of an individual does not come into this selection process, it is entirely based on party loyalty and affiliations.
Pay rise due to “more devolution”, what do Assembly members campaign for, that’s right “More devolution.” Of course because of this the poor lambs are overworked and they need to have another 20 of them.
Regarding quality of intake it is political parties that choose who stands for election. The quality of an individual does not come into this selection process, it is entirely based on party loyalty and affiliations.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/letters/11863886.Is_rise_justified_/
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/letters/11863886.Is_rise_justified_/
It is difficult for plebs, like me, to understand what justification
there is for this recommendation, which fills the pockets of, anyone, elected
to the Assembly and is really all about.
I see that the `unknowns` who form the panel of
individuals who make these recommendations consider that the `New`
future Assembly make up will require lawyers, accountants, and other
`professionals`, in order to deal with more complex additional powers
expected to be devolved to it. I may have missed something here, but,
is`nt
it still the case, that, WE,elect Assembly Members?. and these people
who make these recommendations have absolutely no role in that process?. Is`ny it also the case we already emlpoy the highest paid lawyers ans accountants in Wales with whom every Assembly Member has the privilage of utilising and engageing with on a daily basis, these highly skilled and highly paid professional lawyers also support all the Committees of the Asembly and scrutinise all Assembly decisions, Which our elected representatives make.
Would
it mean that there will be no place for some of the best. current,
members in the Assembly, like, for instance, Lindsay Whittle, who has already expressed aview in this article, and who, so
far as I know, has no relevant legal or accountancy qualifications which
may allow him to hold high office in some new complex Assembly,
Committee chairmanships etc, ? and therefore properly represent the
people who elect him, would he be consigned to the otherwise irrelevant benches of
voting fodder, doffing his hat at the new breed of lawyers, accountants
and perhaps Doctors and engineers who will form the new Assembly?
It is more members like Jeff Cuthbert, and Vaughan Gethin
we need. I must have missed something but the faceless unknowns who
form this panel, are recommending an increase of 33% more in Assembly
Members, and pay everyone £200 a week more than at present based on the
additional workload which comes with new devolved powers, so, an
increase of 33% , 20 more members, and a corresponding increase in work,
so, what justification is there for any rise in pay at all? let alone
£200 a week. If they really want to justify this perverse recommendation they could extend the working hours of Assembly Members, reduce the number of wasted days now spent of holidays, reduce the very generous expenses schemes each member has a pull on, , and remove the food and alcoholic drinks susidy provided in the assembly. including the Off Licence facilities. make every member, at all levels, use their own car and rid the public purse of the increasingly expensive official CAR POOL, Then cost it all and give Assembly Members a relative and reasonable Pay Increase.
It is difficult for plebs, like me, to understand what justification
there is for this recommendation, which fills the pockets of, anyone, elected
to the Assembly and what it is really all about.
I see that the `faceless unknowns` who form the panel of individuals who make these recommendations consider that the `New` future Assembly make up will require lawyers, accountants, and other `professionals`, in order to deal with more complex additional powers expected to be devolved to it. I may have missed something here, but, is`nt it still the case, that, WE,elect Assembly Members?. and these people who make these recommendations have absolutely no role in that process?. Is`nt it also the case we already employ the highest paid lawyers and accountants in Wales with whom every Assembly Member has the privilage of utilising and engageing with on a daily basis, these highly skilled and highly paid professional lawyers also support all the Committees of the Asembly and scrutinise all Assembly decisions, Which our elected representatives make.
Would it mean that there will be no place for some of the best. current,
members in the Assembly, like, for instance, Lindsay Whittle, who has already expressed a view in this article, and who, so far as I know, has no relevant legal or accountancy qualifications which may allow him to hold high office in some new complex Assembly, Committee chairmanships etc, ? and therefore properly represent the people who elect him, would he be consigned to the otherwise irrelevant benches of voting fodder, doffing his hat at the new breed of lawyers, accountants and perhaps Doctors and engineers who will form the new Assembly?
It is more members like Jeff Cuthbert, and Vaughan Gethin
we need. I must have missed something but the faceless unknowns who
form this panel, are recommending an increase of 33% more in Assembly
Members, and pay everyone £200 a week more than at present based on the
additional workload which comes with new devolved powers, so, an
increase of 33% , 20 more members, and a corresponding increase in work,
so, what justification is there for any rise in pay at all? let alone
£200 a week. If they really want to justify this perverse recommendation they could extend the working hours of Assembly Members, reduce the number of wasted days now spent on holidays, and paid for trips abroad, reduce the very generous expenses schemes each member has a pull on, , and remove the food and alcoholic drinks susidy provided in the assembly. including the generous Off Licence facilities they continue to enjoy, make every member, at all levels, use their own car and rid the public purse of the increasingly expensive and growing official CAR POOL, Then cost it all and give Assembly Members a relative and reasonable Pay Increase.
At a time when budgets within the Welsh Labour Government are being cut, there is such a pay rise and a call for a further 20 AM’s at the cost of £9 million a year???!!
In contrast UKIP’s Nathan Gill MEP, car shares and often shares his apartment with other MEPs to save expenses costs. In Caerphilly local UKIP Town Councillor Richard Williams is unpaid and working hard for the community. While also UKIP County Councillors in Wales have been the only ones to refuse pay rises and caused further stirs among colleagues in government such as UKIP’s Cllr Kevin Mahoney who in the Vale of Glamorgan took a voluntary pay cut to reflect recent council budget cuts.
At a time when budgets within the Welsh Labour Government are being cut, there is such a pay rise and a call for a further 20 AM’s at the cost of £9 million a year???!!
In contrast UKIP’s Nathan Gill MEP, car shares and often shares his apartment with other MEPs to save expenses costs. In Caerphilly local UKIP Town Councillor Richard Williams is unpaid and working hard for the community. While also UKIP County Councillors in Wales have been the only ones to refuse pay rises and caused further stirs among colleagues in government such as UKIP’s Cllr Kevin Mahoney who in the Vale of Glamorgan took a voluntary pay cut to reflect recent council budget cuts.