David Rundle throws down the challenge to the Tories

9.07.32am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 26th Apr 2009

MPs should think twice about taking a salary rise

New Parliamentary Spokesperson for Banbury & Bicester Liberal Democrats, David Rundle, has made a public challenge to the sitting Conservative MP. Writing in the local newspapers, David has warned that the rise in MPs' salaries is going to alienate local people further from the politicians who are supposed to serve them.

Here is precisely what David has said:

"People at Westminster often wonder why there is a decline in trust in politicians. Perhaps they should look in the mirror.

"At at time when many are finding their pay-packets are being 'restrained' and others that there is no longer an income at all, it has been announced that MPs this year will enjoy a salary of £64,766. On top of this, of course, they get generous 'expenses' which have proven so controversial recently. And now it is proposed that the money we, as taxpayers, put into MPs' pension schemes should be increased.

"It is not surprising that some people talk of politicians having their snouts in the trough. That may not be fair on many of them but, in these difficult times, it's only right to expect our MPs to be setting an example. A politician might say that it's not up to them whether or not they get an above-inflation pay increase, but each individual can choose how to respond: an MP could voluntarily forgo that rise.

"There's another factor to remember. Some MPs have several directorships and other jobs which they carry on alongside being employed by us, the taxpayers. The local MP for Banbury and Bicester, to his credit, does not try to hide the fact that he's one of those. In his situation, an act of personal pay-restraint would hardly be a hardship. Will the Honourable Member do the honourable thing?"

The Conservative MP has so far stayed silent on the issue.