Tynwald members have refuted the suggestion that they are voting themselves a pay rise.

The court last week debated proposed reforms that would increase their basic pay from £44,675 to more than £60,000.

But under the cost-neutral proposals some would take home less pay.

The automatic £7,607 tax-free lump sum for expenses will be abolished and MLCs will be paid less than MHKs.

And by scrapping the 30% uplift for department members, politicians won’t be penalised if they choose to take on a scrutiny role rather than become part of government.

The series of reforms, which will come at no extra cost to the taxpayer, were recommended by an independent panel.

They would come in for MHKs after the 2021 general election and for MLCs between 2023 and 2025.

But following a division between the branches of parliament, the matter has been adjourned to next month.

Speaker Juan Watterson, chairman of the emoluments committee, told Tynwald: ’It’s an independent report. If you don’t like it, don’t shoot the messengers.’

Mr Watterson, who under the proposals will see a pay cut of £2,107 and pay £1,100 more tax, added: ’There are always winners and losers. Some elements of the package may not suit everyone.’

Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) hit out at ’misrepresentation in the media’ and said the idea they would be getting a pay rise was an ’absolute nonsense’.

Tynwald members’ basic pay currently stands at £44,675 with 30% extra for department members, 50% for Minister and 80% for Chief Minister.

At 2019 rates, a Tynwald member who is a member of a department, would pocket £63,926 including their 30% uplift and lump sum for expenses.

Under the reforms, the basic salary for an MHK would be based on the mid-point between spine points 40 and 41 on the civil service payscale. At 2019 rates this would work out at £65,098.

MLCs would have their basic salary set at spine point 39, which would stand at £61,455 in 2019.

Uplifts will be limited to an extra 30% for the Chief Minister, 15% for a Minister or Speaker and 5% for the chairman of the statutory boards.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) said he would vote against the recommendations.

He said having made a comparison with other parliaments, he had concluded their basic pay should ’really be lower than what is proposed’.

’It should start with a five rather than a six,’ he said.

New member for Douglas South Paul Quine said there was a perception of ’nest feathering’.

’The perception of the man on the Castletown omnibus must be addressed,’ he said.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said it was no longer appropriate for parliamentarians to vote on their own pay and an independent pay panel should be set up.

Ann Corlett (Douglas Central) said members could not win on this issue - by voting for the reforms they would be seen as awarding themselves a pay rise, and voting against they would be seen to support tax-free expenses.

She said expenses should be removed and replaced with a claims system. Taking out expenses would save almost £250,000 a year, she said.

Matters were adjourned for a combined vote next month on an amendment by Julie Edge (Onchan).

She had called for provision for the independent setting of salaries to be brought forward by the emoluments committee by February next year.

The Keys voted 13 to 10 in support but LegCo against by three votes to six, prompting Ms Edge to call for a combined vote.