It is staggering in these straitened financial times that our Members of Parliament have not said no en masse to the proposed 11 per cent pay increase an independent body has awarded them.

After the negative publicity they have, often quite rightly, attracted over recent years, here was an opportunity for all our MPs to stand up and refuse to take the salary increase. Instead, many seem to be saying: It’s been decided independently, which was what was agreed after the last outcry, and so we will accept it.

For the many workers who have seen either a very small or in many cases no increase over recent years, that is completely unpalatable. For those who have lost their jobs as a result of public sector cuts, it is the cruellest of sick jokes.

The phrase ‘we are all in this together’ has often been bandied about; acceptance of this pay increase would show that MPs regard themselves an exception to this.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins and David Ward of Bradford East have both said they will not take it; we would call on all MPs in this district – indeed, all MPs full stop – to come out and say the same.

There may be a debate to be had about the level of pay for MPs at some point; but this period of austerity is completely the wrong time for such a rise to be mooted.

And hiding behind the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to accept this raise is completely wrong. Those who accept it need to look at where the country is now and what the electorate will ultimately make of their decision.