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AM pay rise: Have your say
What do you think of the news that Assembly Members are set to get an inflation-busting 8.3% pay rise?
The news that back bench AMs will now get just over £50,000 a year was announced as Coastguards went on strike over poor pay and follows tight public sector pay awards of around 2%.
The rise was recommended by an Independent Panel that said it was an inevitable result of the Assembly's extra powers.
But do you think AMs are worth the extra cash? Do the extra powers of the Assembly warrant the rise of almost £4000? Was the panel right to grant the award?
Leave your comments below.
12:35pm Friday 7th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: John Doe, Pennar on 11:51am Fri 7 Mar 08
Do you think AMs are worth the extra cash?
No
Do the extra powers of the Assembly warrant the rise of almost £4000?
I fail to see the corrolation between given extra 'powers' and an increase in pay?
Was the panel right to grant the award?
Of course not. These people are an absolute disgrace to the people they represent. Any of the AMs that accept this rise should be voted out at the next election.
They are already amply rewarded and it matters not what ANYBODY says, this pay rise cannot be justified and is a slap in the face for every decent working man in this country.
Do you think AMs are worth the extra cash?
No
Do the extra powers of the Assembly warrant the rise of almost £4000?
I fail to see the corrolation between given extra 'powers' and an increase in pay?
Was the panel right to grant the award?
Of course not. These people are an absolute disgrace to the people they represent. Any of the AMs that accept this rise should be voted out at the next election.
They are already amply rewarded and it matters not what ANYBODY says, this pay rise cannot be justified and is a slap in the face for every decent working man in this country.
Posted by: Reg on the Rath, Milford Haven on 4:08pm Fri 7 Mar 08
John, I totally disagree with your argument. I'm all for the AM's pay rise as long as there's a corresponding reduction in their expenses.
John, I totally disagree with your argument. I'm all for the AM's pay rise as long as there's a corresponding reduction in their expenses.
Posted by: John, Neyland on 4:25pm Fri 7 Mar 08
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....
Posted by: John, Neyland on 4:26pm Fri 7 Mar 08
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....
Posted by: Dai, Tempelton on 5:22pm Fri 7 Mar 08
It certainly is hard to see how they can justify this massive rise when MPs have settled for a 1.9% rise, in line with other public sector workers.
Many of us are forced to take on extra responsibilities without any extra pay.
It certainly is hard to see how they can justify this massive rise when MPs have settled for a 1.9% rise, in line with other public sector workers.
Many of us are forced to take on extra responsibilities without any extra pay.
Posted by: jon, Haverfordwest on 7:28pm Fri 7 Mar 08
Another case of "noses in the trough". Everyone has increasing workloads but have to be satisfied with whatever is offered. These Am's just do not have a clue when it comes to such a sensitive issue as pay. Let's face it, the Assembly is just a talking shop that Wales managed without for many years. Ministers flit from one post to another regardless of how they perform. How many Health Ministers have there been now and look at the state of the NHS in Wales!
Another case of "noses in the trough". Everyone has increasing workloads but have to be satisfied with whatever is offered. These Am's just do not have a clue when it comes to such a sensitive issue as pay. Let's face it, the Assembly is just a talking shop that Wales managed without for many years. Ministers flit from one post to another regardless of how they perform. How many Health Ministers have there been now and look at the state of the NHS in Wales!
Posted by: Jon, Haverfordwest on 12:28pm Tue 11 Mar 08
[quote][bold]John[/bold] wrote:
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....[/quote] I have read somewhere that approx 20% of the proposed rise in council tax is ear-marked for the pension schemes of County Council "officials". If MP's and AM's have their noses in the trough, why not County Councillors??
John wrote:
Now we know why the community charge has been increased. The fat cats get fatter on our backs....
I have read somewhere that approx 20% of the proposed rise in council tax is ear-marked for the pension schemes of County Council "officials". If MP's and AM's have their noses in the trough, why not County Councillors??
Posted by: Andrew Lye, Johnston on 3:43pm Tue 11 Mar 08
I will be controversial and say that I agree with the payrise for AM's as new powers were given to the Assembly from 2007, by Parliament.
Most public sector jobs are re-evaluated when the job holder has additional responsibilities and that would happen in the private sector as well.
Shock horror, I hear you say and write comments to complain at my heretical views!
But hang on.... I'll explain....
Where the system is surely going wrong is that whilst the AM's take on more devolved powers from Westminster, the Welsh MP's presumably have less workload than their English counterparts.
Yet MP's like Nick Ainger and Stephen Crabb get the same salary as an MP in an English seat. An English MP may get casework to do with the NHS etc..., but NOT the Welsh (and Scottish) MP's.
Maybe, whilst the AM's get a payrise, the Welsh and Scottish MP's should get a pay cut, or we have less Welsh and Scottish MP's (?).
(NB - this was written by the real Andrew Lye and not the McFly impersonator!)
I will be controversial and say that I agree with the payrise for AM's as new powers were given to the Assembly from 2007, by Parliament.
Most public sector jobs are re-evaluated when the job holder has additional responsibilities and that would happen in the private sector as well.
Shock horror, I hear you say and write comments to complain at my heretical views!
But hang on.... I'll explain....
Where the system is surely going wrong is that whilst the AM's take on more devolved powers from Westminster, the Welsh MP's presumably have less workload than their English counterparts.
Yet MP's like Nick Ainger and Stephen Crabb get the same salary as an MP in an English seat. An English MP may get casework to do with the NHS etc..., but NOT the Welsh (and Scottish) MP's.
Maybe, whilst the AM's get a payrise, the Welsh and Scottish MP's should get a pay cut, or we have less Welsh and Scottish MP's (?).
(NB - this was written by the real Andrew Lye and not the McFly impersonator!)
Posted by: John Doe, Pennar on 9:05am Thu 13 Mar 08
Andrew, you're a patronising tw@t. More powers do not result in more hours in the day so does not result in more work. If power = pay why isn't the Prime Minister the highest paid civil servant in the country.
You talk through your arse. The Senedd is a talking shop that costs us millions of pounds per year and hasn't done any good for the normal working person in this country.
Thanks for trying to educate us but I for one can do without listening to your attempts to justify this, wot wiv u bein a educated man from a state skool an all that.
An 8.3% pay rise is absolutely obscene, especially given the current financial outlook of the country and when everyone else is being told that they have to pay more taxes for this that and the other.
Parcel it up as you like, there is NO way of justifying taking the pi$$ out of the people of this country in this way.
It's English people like you with you conceited and condescending manner that make the Welsh hate the English in general although most of them are good people.
Andrew, you're a patronising tw@t. More powers do not result in more hours in the day so does not result in more work. If power = pay why isn't the Prime Minister the highest paid civil servant in the country.
You talk through your arse. The Senedd is a talking shop that costs us millions of pounds per year and hasn't done any good for the normal working person in this country.
Thanks for trying to educate us but I for one can do without listening to your attempts to justify this, wot wiv u bein a educated man from a state skool an all that.
An 8.3% pay rise is absolutely obscene, especially given the current financial outlook of the country and when everyone else is being told that they have to pay more taxes for this that and the other.
Parcel it up as you like, there is NO way of justifying taking the pi$$ out of the people of this country in this way.
It's English people like you with you conceited and condescending manner that make the Welsh hate the English in general although most of them are good people.
Posted by: yvonne-mandy nicholl, penally on 8:04pm Sun 23 Mar 08
"All Rise".
Here's to the floaters,
and tactical voters,
where has this got you?
If we believe in equality,
or in the distinction of class.
Enough for he, or more for me,
or on that would you pass?
"All Rise"
for better public transport-
re-open all them schools,
dot the 'i' above integrity
this is no lesson for fools.
"All Rise"
for local businesses,
who deal with british trade,
put the great back into
this wonderful Isle,
as in it we have stayed.
"All Rise"
for open justice
to protect our kith and kin,
warmth to our elders
and young alike,
give respect
that dwells within.
"All Rise".
Here's to the floaters,
and tactical voters,
where has this got you?
If we believe in equality,
or in the distinction of class.
Enough for he, or more for me,
or on that would you pass?
"All Rise"
for better public transport-
re-open all them schools,
dot the 'i' above integrity
this is no lesson for fools.
"All Rise"
for local businesses,
who deal with british trade,
put the great back into
this wonderful Isle,
as in it we have stayed.
"All Rise"
for open justice
to protect our kith and kin,
warmth to our elders
and young alike,
give respect
that dwells within.
Posted by: John Doe, Pennar on 10:51am Wed 9 Apr 08
Keep taking the medication "Yvonne-Mandy"
Keep taking the medication "Yvonne-Mandy"
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