A LABOUR MP has announced she will be giving her £2200 pay rise away to a local food bank and refugee charity.

Describing the increase to MPs’ salaries as “wrong”, Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana explained what she would be doing with her extra money.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that basic salaries for members of the House would be going up by 2.7% - the same as the average increase in pay for public sector employees last year.

It will bring the overall salary from £81,932 to £84,144 from April 1 2022 – an increase of £2212 per year.

But the move comes as people across the UK face a severe cost of living squeeze – with energy bills to soar, National Insurance contributions to go up and inflation skyrocketing.

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Despite this, Richard Lloyd, the chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) which made the salary decision, said it was “right” that MPs are “paid fairly”, particularly with their work “dramatically” increasing in the past 12 months.

It is the first increase in MPs’ pay for two years, as pay remained unchanged in 2021 due to the Covid-19 crisis, the watchdog said in a statement.

In previous years, SNP MPs have donated their pay rises to charity. The party has been contacted for comment.

In a tweet, Sultana declared her intent to use her pay rise to support those struggling to afford food in her constituency, as well as those fleeing the brutal invasion of Ukraine and other refugees.

“I believe MPs getting a £2200 pay rise is wrong and have pledged to donate mine to good causes in Coventry,” she told her followers.

“I will give 50% of it to Coventry Foodbank. I will give the other 50% to charities in Coventry supporting refugees, to help Ukrainians and all those fleeing brutal war.”

Speaking after the announcement, Lloyd had defended the pay rise.

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He said: “This is the first increase in pay for MPs in two years and follows the average of increases across the public sector last year.

“MPs play a vital role in our democracy and this is reflected in their pay.=

“It is right that MPs are paid fairly for the responsibility and the unseen work they do helping their constituents, which dramatically increased last year.

“For Parliament to reflect society, it is vital that people from all walks of life can be an MP.”