90 years ago the subject of MPs salaries and expenses was even more likely to generate controversy than today. In 1919, William Adamson, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, proposed increasing the salary paid to MPs, leading to a debate in Parliament on 5th March. Andrew Bonar Law, the Conservative leader, rejected this on the grounds that the public had not been consulted as the proposal had not been mentioned in any election pledges. He also rejected the idea that railway fares should be paid. |
