SALARIES OF M.P.’S

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 13

SALARIES OF M.P.’S

“SHABBY ECONOMIES NECESSARY ” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 7. During the last fortnight the chief Labour Whip, Mr 'William Whiteley, has been obtaining from younger Labour M.P.’s, particularly those living in the provinces and having large families, fully-detailed information about their financial affairs, says the Parliamentary correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.” He adds that the information received. which has been discussed by Mr Attlee and Mr Morrison, .was “distressing,” and surprised Ministers “who have been unaware of the extent to which shabby economies have become almost routine” for some of the younger members. “About a third of the Labour M.P.’s are receiving grants ranging from £5O to £l5O a year from trade unions or other sponsoring organisations,” says the correspondent. “At least one-third, however, are living entirely on their Parliamentary salaries and, denied the possible advantages that lawyers, journalists, directors, and other professional men have in being able to combine Parliamentary membership and wage-earning, are now facing the choice of carrying out a life of increasingly rigorous ana undignified economy, or giving up their seats. “A few people complained in 1946 that £lOOO annually was excessive, but is £685 (its value now) enough?”