Windsor MP Adam Afriyie hits out at 'embarrassing' MPs who donate pay rises to charity

Windsor MP Adam Afriyie has hit out at 'grandstanding' MPs who donate pay rises to charity.

Mr Afriyie appeared on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme this morning.

He stressed the difference between a 'reduction in the overall package' and a pay rise.

He said: "We have to be absolutely clear on it's a reduction in the overall package."

John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, responded with: "You can dress it up as much as you want Adam but it's a pay rise - It's an actual increase.

"It's more than you voted for public sector workers to get and ironically I'd be quite happy for public sector workers to get a bigger increase."

A trainee doctor said many of his friends and colleagues will not receive a pay increase while MPs earn three times the national average. 

Mr Afriyie said himself and other politicians did not go into the role for the money and were instead 'driven to try and change the country'.

He said: "We're in danger of suggesting that MPs control their pay.

"MPs have no control whatsoever -  there is no vote."

Derbyshire said MPs do not have to accept the pay increase and some are choosing to donate it to charity.

The Windsor MP branded this 'embarrassing'.  

He said: "I find that quite embarrassing when somebody says 'oh I'm going to be such a wonderful person and give all this to charity' - It's just grandstanding.

"It's a bit distasteful to boast about that to get yourself off the hook publicly."