Inflation at 5.5% - Page 2

Greg Pope · 14-10-2008, 19:38

I'm no expert but I think the facts are these: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen to 5.2% and the Retail Price Index (RPI) has risen to 5.0%. Benefits and state pension increases for April 2009 are based on the September 2008 RPI figure and so will rise by 5.0% next year.

Willow said that MPs will be able to vote themselves a higher than inflation pay rise to cover themselves. I haven't got the exact figure to hand but I think that this year MPs voted themselves a 1.9% rise in line with other public sector workers, the 7th year in a row that the rise has been lower than inflation.

cashman · 14-10-2008, 19:49

thanks fer clearing that up Mr Pope, perhaps you may know if the opposition ever took Less than inflation oer their 3 electoral terms? i suspect not, but can stand to be shocked.

Caz · 14-10-2008, 20:40

Tax credits award told us in July that we would have approx 4 quid increase in April. Does this September reckoning mean I can disregard that and look forward to more?

jaysay · 15-10-2008, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

thanks fer clearing that up Mr Pope, perhaps you may know if the opposition ever took Less than inflation oer their 3 electoral terms? i suspect not, but can stand to be shocked.

I think you may find that pay increases for MPs are usually a cross party agreement cashy, not just set out by the party in power, if I remember rightly, MPs pay rises are recommended by an independant body. But even so percentage pay increases are an anomaly, 1.9% on say £35000 and 5% on £95 are vastly different in real terms. ie around £660 as opposed to £4-90p

MargaretR · 15-10-2008, 09:52

Does my memory serve me correctly? - in the 50s and maybe even 60s, pay rises were campaigned for in ££££ not %%%%

A percentage rise in a low wage still makes for a low wage.
Whoever started this percentage rise system has just widened the gap between the richest and the poorest

WillowTheWhisp · 15-10-2008, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Pope

Willow said that MPs will be able to vote themselves a higher than inflation pay rise to cover themselves. I haven't got the exact figure to hand but I think that this year MPs voted themselves a 1.9% rise in line with other public sector workers, the 7th year in a row that the rise has been lower than inflation.

Thanks Greg. I did say that they are able to, it's nice to know that in spite of being able to they don't intend to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Does my memory serve me correctly? - in the 50s and maybe even 60s, pay rises were campaigned for in ££££ not %%%%

A percentage rise in a low wage still makes for a low wage.
Whoever started this percentage rise system has just widened the gap between the richest and the poorest

My working life doesn't extend back that far but I do wholeheartedly agree with you that percentage increases only serve to widen the gap between higher and lower pay. A £1 increase in prices is felt more by a lower paid worker too so to be 'fair' it should be the lower paid that get a higher percentage increase than the higher paid, on a sliding scale. Can't see that going down well with fat cats though.

jaysay · 15-10-2008, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Does my memory serve me correctly? - in the 50s and maybe even 60s, pay rises were campaigned for in ££££ not %%%%

A percentage rise in a low wage still makes for a low wage.
Whoever started this percentage rise system has just widened the gap between the richest and the poorest

Your quite right Margaret, I can remember when I was an happyrentice, the joiners got 2 pence an hour raise and we got a penny, much fairer, but they don't do it now because how it would look, it don't seem much when an MPs salary raises by 1.9% but if it was put in money terms it looks outragious

Neil · 15-10-2008, 17:15

Why what do MP's get paid?

Stanaccy · 15-10-2008, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

I’m sure that you are right in that assumption but the government passed the act and they can change it if they want to. Or find a new way of calculating inflation so that the ‘new’ figure is much lower than the true one.

In fact the alleged ‘true’ figure isn’t as true as it should be.

You will get about 5.2 -5.5% increase why oh why whatever is happening do you have to moan about it. I got no increase this year just a lump sum one off non consolidated increase of £200 less tax. which equated to about £140. If I was going to get the highest increase in about 17 - 18 years I would be happy.

jaysay · 16-10-2008, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Why what do MP's get paid?

Be quite honest Neil I just ain't got a clue these days, the figures I used were insidental, just to explain my point. I actually think and MPs pay could be in the region of £50K plus Xes, but if I'm wrong I'm sure some one will correct me

lancsdave · 16-10-2008, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Be quite honest Neil I just ain't got a clue these days, the figures I used were insidental, just to explain my point. I actually think and MPs pay could be in the region of £50K plus Xes, but if I'm wrong I'm sure some one will correct me

The basic is just over 60k, + expenses & allowances

shakermaker · 16-10-2008, 10:45

It's easier for the goverment to take money from the citizens through inflation than it is through taxes. It's how the Germans got rid of their debt afer the first world war. Yet when taxes increase by pence per year we hit the roof. Bonkers.

Greg Pope · 16-10-2008, 11:27

From 1st April 2008 the annual salary of a Member of Parliament is £63,291. For further information this webpage is quite useful: UK Parliament - Members FAQ Page2

jambutty · 16-10-2008, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanaccy

You will get about 5.2 -5.5% increase why oh why whatever is happening do you have to moan about it. I got no increase this year just a lump sum one off non consolidated increase of £200 less tax. which equated to about £140. If I was going to get the highest increase in about 17 - 18 years I would be happy.

If something is wrong I have the right to moan about it if I want to.

There are many other threads where other people have a moan at something but I don’t notice you having a go at them. But there are no ‘brownie points’ to be gained there.

Caz · 17-10-2008, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

If something is wrong I have the right to moan about it if I want to.

There are many other threads where other people have a moan at something but I don’t notice you having a go at them. But there are no ‘brownie points’ to be gained there.

Agreed. Seems one or two on here are just waiting to pounce on JB no matter what he says.

He puts a post in about reading meters, someone says he spoils a thread. It was only an observation, only one person commented on it. And it was the first thing that sprang to my mind to be honest. Now we have someone having a go, because he's moaning about this. So what! Isn't that what this forum is partly about, being able to vent your spleen when you want. You never moaned about owt on here stan accy?