A 10 per cent pay rise for MPs is 'not appropriate at this time' – is the government finally in touch with the lives of ordinary voters?

Parliamentary watchdog will increase MPs' pay by £7,000 unless 'compelling evidence' comes forward

In a sign that the government is finally in touch with the lives of ordinary voters, it has written a letter to the parliamentary watchdog describing its proposed 10 per cent pay hike for MPs as “not appropriate” at the current time.

Ipsa is set to increase MPs’ pay from £67,070 to £74,000 by the end of the month unless “new and compelling evidence” comes forward but David Cameron is among many leading politicians against the move.

His decision to ask his minister Chris Grayling, the Leader of the House, to write to Ipsa calling for a rethink was a U-turn on his position earlier in the week when Downing Street said he would not be making a fresh case against the pay rise.

The letter points out the Government expects to save £4 million towards “cutting the cost of politics” by freezing ministerial pay for the next five years.

It calls on Ipsa to help in the “ongoing commitment to responsible fiscal policy and returning the public finances to a sustainable position”.

“The Government opposed the suggestion that there should be a pay rise of this nature at that time, and the view of the Government remains that a pay rise of this nature at this time is not appropriate,” the letter says.

The decision over MPs’ pay was taken out of MPs’ hands after the 2009 expenses scandal and given to Ipsa, the independent parliamentary watchdog.

The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman insisted on Tuesday the decision was ultimately one for them.

But this morning Number 10 backtracked, announcing it was being sent to Ipsa reaffirming Mr Cameron’s opposition to the pay rise and urging a rethink.

It comes after pressure rose on the Prime Minister to make a stand after three of the four Labour leadership candidates said they would reject the increase and several of Mr Cameron’s Cabinet colleagues said they would hand the increase to charity.

A Downing Street source said: "We're writing a letter to Ipsa to reiterate we stand by the detailed submission we had already made to them last year saying we think this rise is wrong."

It is a tricky subject for the Prime Minister, who is very aware of the inevitable public backlash if MPs were given a 10 per cent pay rise when the rest of the public sector is restricted to a 1 per cent rise.

But it would be difficult for the government to step in to stop the pay rise, considering Ipsa was introduced in 2010 for the precise purpose of taking the decision out of the hands of politicians.

And Mr Cameron also faces opposition from his own backbenches, some of whom are deeply resentful of ministers – who earn more and many of whom are millionaires – insisting all MPs should reject the pay rise.

It will aggravate the lower orders in the party if they are told by ‘Tory toffs’ in the party that they should not accept an increase in pay.

It is unlikely that the Prime Minister’s final call for a rethink will make any difference and is probably little more than a stunt, as was Andy Burnham’s tweet yesterday morning saying he would reject the pay rise, which set in train the string of leading MPs insisting they would do the same.

I have always been clear that 10% pay rise for MPs cannot be justified. I won't accept it. Will turn down at source or give to local groups.

— Andy Burnham (@andyburnhammp) June 3, 2015