Deputy Kevin Pamplin criticised the timing of a report about increasing Members’ pay, which was published in the same week as the government’s plan to deliver £100 million worth of savings.
The recommendations, made by the States Members’ Remuneration Review Body, suggest that pay should be increased from £46,600 to £50,000 a year while the Chief Minister would receive an extra £15,000 ‘on account of the additional responsibilities which come with the role’. Ministers and the head of Scrutiny would receive an extra £7,500.
The increase will automatically come into effect unless a Member brings forward a proposition to block the rises. If the rises go through, it would be the first States Members’ pay increase since 2014.
However, Deputy Pamplin believes that pay rises for politicians should only match the inflation rate.
The politician said: ‘Personally I believe that the States pay should just rise with the cost of living and RPI and not above that.
‘I think it is acceptable to have a salary that allows a hard-working States Member to live comfortably, and it does not have to increase by a silly amount.’
The proposals were made by a body of five people who are not elected politicians.
Deputy Pamplin revealed that some States Members were not pleased about the timing of the report.
He said: ‘The timing of the report from the remuneration body was wrong. It came out at the wrong time. It came when other things were coming out such as saving £100 million and investment in other things, so I think Members were unhappy about that.
‘It wasn’t really the best time for it to come out.’
The recommendations attracted public criticism online with people questioning a potential rise at a time when savings are being proposed and civil servants are striking over pay.
Currently, the law states that all Members must be paid the same amount so a legislative change would be required to allow tiered salaries to be introduced.
