Bolton's MPs are to receive pay rises of more than £2,000 this year to take their salaries to more than £86,000.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) confirmed these pay rises are to start from April 1.

IPSA said the increase from £84,144 to £86,584 is in line with the increase for those in the public sector, such as nurses and teachers, a lot of whom are in the midst of strike action over their salaries.

It comes at a time when people in this area and across the country are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

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Given the chance to comment on their pay rises, Bolton's MPs Mark Logan, Yasmin Qureshi and Chris Green stressed their lack of involvement in the decision by IPSA. But Mr Logan said this decision was 'poor timing'.

The MP for Bolton North East said: "Even though MPs had absolutely no say on this matter, still I’d like to say this is poor timing given that various sectors are feeling pressure, paired with the cost-of-living challenges."

Ms Qureshi, the MP for Bolton South East, said: "Remuneration for Members of Parliament is set by IPSA and individual MPs have no say in the process."

And Mr Green, the MP for Bolton West and Atherton, said: "Our salaries are determined by an independent body."

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As well as salaries of more than £86,000 from April 1, MPs are entitled to expenses for their accommodation costs, office costs, staff costs and travel costs.

There is remuneration for those who are chairs of Select Committees, members of the Panel of Chairs and ministers or secretaries of state, but this is not the case for Mr Logan, Ms Qureshi or Mr Green.

Richard Lloyd, the chairman of the independent body founded 14 years ago in response to a scandal over expenses, said: "In confirming MPs' pay for next year, we have once again considered very carefully the extremely difficult economic circumstances, the government’s evolving approach to public sector pay in the light of forecasted rates of inflation, and the principle that MPs’ pay should be reflective of their responsibility in our democracy.

"Our aim is to ensure that pay is fair for MPs, regardless of their financial circumstances, to support the most diverse of parliaments. Serving as an MP should not be the preserve of those wealthy enough to fund it themselves. It is important for our democracy that people from any background should see representing their communities in Parliament as a possibility."