Caerphilly Labour MP Wayne David has shunned a Parliamentary pay rise.
Wales Office minister Mr David, who was ordered to repay almost £13,000 of expenses last month, has said he will not accept the new £65,737 annual rate for a Member of Parliament.
The 1.5% pay increase, worth £1,000, was awarded to MPs last week by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) and will come into effect next month.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged his ministers, of which Mr David is one, not to accept the basic pay rise and to turn down a ministerial pay rise.
Mr David said: “In these difficult economic times, when people have to tighten their belts, I do not believe that government ministers should give the impression that they are different to everyone else.
“The economy is showing signs of recovery but we still have a long way to go. There has to be pay restraint and this should apply to Government Ministers who already receive a more than adequate salary.”
A spokeswoman for Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister is clear that we need to strengthen public confidence in the political system and reduce the cost of politics.
“That is why paid Government ministers will not be accepting the pay rise in MP salaries generated by the annual formula and based on the average pay award across the public sector in the previous year.
“They will also not be accepting a rise in ministerial salaries this year.”
Mr David earns £31,401 as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office. This is on top of his basic MP salary of £64,766 giving a grand total salary of £96,167.
What a sacrifice that must be for someone earning £96k a year! How is he going to manage?
For the first time I will not be voting Labour in the general election. It's no longer a party for the the working class or the people of Wales.
Dear Sir.
I agree what Nick says,About our Mps claiming money from the ratepayers.Which they were not entitled to.I hope people rember this when they go to vote in the next general election.
David.