Unless there is a U-turn in the next month, our Members of Parliament are set to get a £7,000 pay rise, taking their total salary to £74,000.

The pay rise was recommended in 2013 by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the body which decides how much MPs earn.

Since then, IPSA has been put under pressure by Government ministers and the public to change its proposal.

But unless a consultation produces new and compelling evidence by the end of this month, the pay rise will come into effect.

It will be backdated to May 8, the day after the General Election.

Before IPSA was created, MPs were responsible for deciding their own expenses and salaries. But the expenses scandal in 2009 led to IPSA being set up and it soon took responsibility for salaries as well as expenses.

In a consultation paper on the pay rise the board of IPSA wrote: “As a whole this package of reform would not cost the taxpayer a penny more. It would bring MPs’ pensions into line with others in the public sector, it would get rid of generous and out-of-date benefits and, after a one-off pay adjustment, it would permanently link MPs’ pay to the pay of the people they represent.”

We asked our MPs what they thought of the recommendation that they should be paid more.

To take part in the consultation visit parliamentarystandards.org.uk

NICOLA BLACKWOOD

“Despite the constant headlines, IPSA still hasn’t made a final decision on these pay and conditions reforms.

“I have been clear from the beginning that I think their proposals are wrong at a time of public pay restraint, and I still hope common sense will prevail.”

DAVID CAMERON

Mr Cameron’s research assistant and local press officer Julia Spence said: “There isn’t a final proposal but Mr Cameron has been very clear that he does not think this proposed rise is acceptable.

“IPSA is an independent body. It decides MPs’ pay and it’s for them to make their determination.

“However, the Government has written to IPSA reiterating Mr Cameron’s view that this is an unacceptable proposal.

“Moreover, when it comes to the part of MPs’ pay that Mr Cameron does control – ministerial pay – he has announced that it will remain frozen for an additional five years.”

VICTORIA PRENTIS

“The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority was established in response to the MP expenses scandal.

“MPs have absolutely no control over their pay level so any decision surrounding pay levels is entirely a matter for IPSA.”

ANDREW SMITH

“I think this increase will be dropped. It’s clearly wrong for MPs to get an increase above what applies elsewhere in the public sector.

“Both the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Government have made it clear they oppose the increase, as I am sure do the overwhelming majority of the public. “It’s very important that the public make their views known to IPSA, which is totally independent of MPs.

“I would encourage people to send in their views, which they can do by email to mppayandpension@parliamentarystandards.org.uk or by writing to IPSA at 4th Floor, 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DU.

“If the increase were to be forced through by IPSA, I would listen to my constituents on what to do with it, but I think most people would support donating it to charity.”

JOHN HOWELL

Henley MP Mr Howell refused to provide his views on the rise and asked us to refer to the IPSA statement instead.

ED VAIZEY

Mr Vaizey did not respond to requests for comment.