Would you give States members a pay rise?

Tuesday 24 June 2014

You might worry about what’s in your pay packet but do you care how much States members are taking home?

The independent body which reviews politicians’ pay wants to know what you think before it recommends how much they should get for the next three years.

At the moment the Chief Minister gets paid £46,600 a year, including a tax free expenses allowance of £4,000, £600 for his computer and broadband and free parking in town – but so do all his fellow politicians – regardless of their role and responsibility.

Jersey is the only place where the top politician gets the same as a backbencher and that’s something the Treasury Minister has repeatedly tried but failed to change. Senator Philip Ozouf’s latest proposal to introduce differential pay for States members was narrowly rejected last month by 23 votes to 20.

The States Members Remuneration Review Body wants to know whether you think their pay is fair, whether members should carry on getting their expenses covered tax-free and whether they should get a pension.

SMRRB Chairman Julian Rogers said: ”We will shortly be considering our recommendations on the appropriate level of remuneration and expenses for States members for 2015 to 2018. We hope to receive comments on how respondents view the work and responsibility level of States members and are keen to engender some good debate on this matter.”

There’s a public meeting about States pay at St Paul’s Centre on Wednesday 25 June at 6 pm.

There’s also an online questionnaire at www.gov.je/consultations 

The closing date for submissions is Monday 14 July 2014.