HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has condemned plans to give MPs an 11 per cent pay rise in 2015 and called for the independent body which recommended it to be scrapped.

The Labour backbencher spoke out after retiring Blackburn MP Jack Straw defended it and three colleagues pledged to give it away if re-elected.

Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans has declined to say what he would do.

But Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry, his Pendle Tory colleague Andrew Stephenson, and Burnley Lib Dem Gordon Birtwistle all pledged to give any pay rise to local charities.

Parliamentary watchdog IPSA have recommended a rise of £7,600 from £66,396 to £74,000 after the May 2015 election. It will also squeeze MPs pensions, scrap dinner allowances and crack down on second home expenses.

Mr Jones said: “It cannot go ahead when people are going through the biggest cost of living crisis for a generation.

“I’ve always donated to chairities and will continue to do so. IPSA should be abolished.”

Chorley’s Lindsay Hoyle said: “It should be left to an independent body.”