BOLTON MPs have hit out at plans to give them an 11 per cent pay rise.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced it is looking to give MPs a £7,600 per year rise from 2015, taking their salary up to £74,000.

Members of Parliament have no way of preventing the pay rise coming into force, which IPSA argues is a way of making sure their wages catch up with others in the public sector.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, said it would be inappropriate to receive such a large pay rise during these tough economic times.

He said: “It would be a nonsense if we were given an 11 per cent pay rise. I think that’s the general view of most MPs.

“During such austere times, when there are cuts to services, people in the public sector aren’t receiving a pay rise and the impact of the bedroom tax on many homes — it seems to me to be nonsense that we should be paid more.

“The expenses system as it is currently is not right — we need a different system in place and I think it’s something that needs to be looked into appropriately.”

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling said she was furious about the announcement.

She said: “I’m really angry with IPSA for putting me and other MPs in this situation.

“I and the Labour Party have always said that decisions about MPs pay must be taken in the light of the current economic situation and the cost-of-living crisis facing people up and down Britain.

“This is not the time to propose big pay rises.”

Yasmin Qureshi, who represents Bolton South East, said: “As I understand, this is what IPSA are thinking about, and they have not determined what they will do.

“This issue is also linked with MPs pensions, which are going to be very different to how it used to be.

“Until we know what the full picture is and exactly what they are proposing it’s difficult to comment.

“However I fully understand that people are upset that IPSA is recommending a pay rise when everybody else isn’t getting such a high increase.”