REGIONAL PAY - A battle the Coalition can do without

Monday, 18 June 2012

Liberal Democrats are signalling that prolonging the debate about regional and local pay for the public sector risks pointless discontent amongst Coalition ranks and could distract the Coalition from its drive to revive the flagging economy.

Opposition to this policy drift, according to the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport John Pugh, has hardened and increased since 22 Lib Dem MPs signed a letter to the Guardian (‘Lib Dems line up against regional pay’, 16th May) reinforcing earlier scepticism shown by party leader Nick Clegg. The issue is also sure to feature at this year's party conference.

Lib Dem MPs have agreed today only to support a neutral call for evidence during Today's opposition day debate on Regional Pay and Lib Dem backbenchers will shortly be making their own submission to the review body. It will be critical of Treasury proposals.

Commenting on the issue, John Pugh MP remarked:

"The arguments being presented for these divisive proposals seem so flaky and the difficulties of implementation so complex you have got to ask – why risk blood on the carpet? Good sense, collective will and pragmatism must trump ideology in current, fraught circumstances."