THE MPs who represent south Cumbria have responded to the news that they are set to receive a pay rise from April.

The wages of members of Parliament, set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, are to increase by 2.9 per cent – from £84,144 to £86,584.

Tim Farron, who represents the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, expressed concerns about the planned hike. 

“It’s right that MPs' pay is set by an independent body, and that MPs get no say in how much they are paid," he said.

“But it doesn’t sit right with me that MPs will be getting a pay rise when the Government is resisting giving a fair pay settlement to nurses and other frontline workers and is refusing to even talk to them."

READ MORE: 'Urbanisation' - Decision made on controversial plan for five homes in hamlet

Mr Farron said he would be increasing his charitable giving 'in line with' the pay rise. 

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, also stressed that MPs' pay was set by an independent body. 

"We do not vote on it and cannot influence it and quite rightly so – it would be inappropriate to mark our own homework," he said.

"Any changes to pay track with the previous year's public sector pay increases."

The rise in wages is to take effect from April 1.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA chairman, said the body's aim was to ensure pay was fair for MPs in order to 'support the most diverse of Parliaments'.

"In confirming MPs’ pay for next year, we have once again considered very carefully the extremely difficult economic circumstances, the Government’s evolving approach to public sector pay in the light of forecasted rates of inflation, and the principle that MPs’ pay should be reflective of their responsibility in our democracy," he said.

“Serving as an MP should not be the preserve of those wealthy enough to fund it themselves.

"It is important for our democracy that people from any background should see representing their communities in Parliament as a possibility.”

IPSA was formed in 2009 in the wake of the MP expenses scandal.