MPs could be set for 10% pay rise next year

MPs should be given a 10% pay rise next year according to the head of the Commons expenses watchdog which has been conducting a review into MPs pay.

Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), Marcial Boo told the Sunday Telegraph that MPs are underpaid.

Mr Boo said: "All the evidence points towards MPs' salaries having fallen behind... This is an important job, the job of an MP...It is not an easy thing to do. We want to have good people doing the job and they need to be paid fairly."

MPs are already due a 1% increase to £67,731 next April and under Ipsa's plan their pay will rise again a month later to £74,000.

The watchdog will conduct one further review of the pay rise after the general election but Mr Boo says the country's improving economic situation means it is in a better position to pay MPs more money.