Do MPs deserve a pay rise?

A small group of MPs have put their heads above the parapet in a brave and commendable fashion by demanding that they and their colleagues should not receive large pay rises. My own view is that MPs should be paid substantially more than what they currently receive, not least because it might improve the intake a little. The Guardian quotes Lib Dem Jo Swinson, Conservative Tim Loughton and Labour’s Keith Vaz as being opposed to a large pay increase. Mr Vaz supplements his income by writing for newspapers, fairly frequently. Ms Swinson is married to another Lib Dem, Duncan Hames, and so has the benefit of being a young double income and childless (although I believe she’s up the duff) couple. And Tim Loughton was, until 2000, a company director in the City of London and has apparently substantial shares in J P Morgan. What about the older MPs with families, those who have not made a killing in the city or supplement their incomes with journalism? How many real high flyers past the age of forty would settle for £60k a year?