Response to the Consultation on MPs’ Pay in the 2015 Parliament
June 2015

Name
Tobias Ellwood MP
Date of submission 3 June 2015
Subject
Statutory review of MPs' pay
Response
Dear Sir Ian,
I know I speak for the silent majority (who are not millionaires) to say this increase is well
overdue.
I never expected to be watching the pennies at my age and yet this is what I now have to
do.
I was in the Armed forces where, had I stayed in, I would be earning far more than I am
now. See the salary bands in this simple chart here:
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/armypayscales.php#.VW9crk_wtaQ
As the chart shows, even WITHOUT promotion, a Colonel’s pay (not a particularly high
rank, earns £69k and will automatically go UP by about £1k each year. As seniority as a
colonel is recognised.
Those who are vocal about turning down the MPs’ increase have all acquired considerable
wealth and can afford it. Without a competitive salary you will fill this place with rich
people and not those such as me who have taken a salary cut to serve here.
In addition, as an MP, I have no hospitality budget so when, for example, the Mayor of
Bournemouth comes up for an annual lunch at the House of Commons, the bill comes out
of my own pocket. I exhaust my car travel mileage, as I return to Bournemouth most
weekends and my wife exhausts her rail travel allowance for the same reason. So we
have to pay all this extra ourselves.
With record employment, GDP growth at ~3%, the argument that now is not the right
time to rectify salaries begs the question: whenever is a good time?
I hope common sense will prevail and this pay rise will be honoured.
Yours
Tobias Ellwood.