Lloyd Condemns Tory Calls for 6 - Figure MP Salaries

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Aug 2009

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner Stephen Lloyd has condemned the proposals from senior Conservatives Sir Patrick Cormack and Douglas Hogg for MPs' salaries to be increased to well over £100,000.

"These proposals are obscene: disgusting, greedy and offensive", he said. "The general public has already lost a lot of confidence due to the behaviour of many of the current MPs over their expense claims. This just goes to show how completely out of touch the Conservative party really are, and how totally insensitive they are to public opinion. Don't they know how angry people are? Don't they care?"

Stephen added "Whatever happened to a fair day's pay for a fair day's work?. MPs should obviously have a salary which reflects the work they do. They should be able to recover the cost of travelling to and from London, and for renting accommodation in London whilst away from their families and constituency. But they should not be entering the House of Commons in order to become wealthy at the public's expense either by using the second home allowance to pay the mortgage on a large house or demanding ludicrously inflated salaries. I am seeking election in Eastbourne & Willingdon to help improve the lives of my constituents - not to feather my own nest." He closed "If this is David Cameron's idea of a modern, reformed Conservative party, I am amazed".