THEY'RE already on almost three times the average wage, but out-of-touch MPs reckon they deserve more – a LOT more.
In a shock poll that has outraged union leaders, more than two thirds insisted they should get an average rise of 32%.
That would take their pay from £65,738 to £86,250, not including perks.
And the increase alone would be almost equivalent to the entire salary of the typical worker.
Among Tory MPs, unsurprisingly, the pay demand was even higher.
Just days after capping benefits at 1% and branding ordinary working families "scroungers", they said they should be on £96,740 – a 48% rise.
Around a third – 34% – also said the 1% freeze on public sector pay should not apply to them.
Lib Dems thought they were worth £78,361 while Labour MPs wanted £77,322, according to the survey by expenses watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
Around a quarter of all 650 MPs thought they should earn more than £90,000, while 8% said they should be on more than £100,000.
Only one MP, who was not named, said they should take a pay CUT – and be paid less than £40,000.
Despite the claims, watchdog IPSA said there will be no big increases – and MPs' pay will be firmly capped at a 1% rise for the next two years.
But the sheer greed of most of the MPs polled brought an angry reaction from union leaders last night.
Unite national officer Rachael Maskell said: "This is the sort of self-interest which gives politics such a bad reputation, especially at a time when people want their leaders to be in touch with the problems they face.
"It beggars belief that, while hard-working families are facing pay freezes and having their benefits slashed, MPs think they deserve a 32% pay increase.
"This survey might be anonymous, but this only serves to put a stain on all parliamentarians."
The findings of the poll, carried out in October and November, were revealed just 48 hours after the Tory-led Coalition hit millions of households with its strivers' tax and slashed benefits for the poorest.
The decision to cap benefit payments will leave seven million workers worse off by an average of £165 a year and 2.8million jobless £215 out of pocket.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the Coalition was treating people with "contempt".
He added: "MPs should get real. This poll shows how totally out of touch they are.
"How can they think they deserve a 32% increase when the rest of the country is being told to tighten their belts?
"Public sector workers such as teaching assistants, school dinner ladies, nurses, paramedics and care workers are struggling because they have had their pay frozen for years.
"It would be nice to hear MPs backing calls for a decent rise for these workers instead of themselves."
MPs are already in the top 5% of earners and receive nearly five times more than someone on the minimum wage of £11,856.
They are also free to earn as much as they like from a second, or even a third, job – in addition to generous holidays and gold-plated pensions of up to £22,000.
The poll also found a third of MPs wanted to keep their lucrative final salary pensions – even though the Government has ended the scheme for other public sector workers.
In the survey a number of anonymous MPs griped about their low pay.
One moaned: "We receive endless requests for raffle donations, breakfasts, teas, dinner, lunches etc.
"We frequently have to entertain people. And we spend money on things which cannot be claimed back."
Tory Cheryl Gillan claimed low pay was deterring people from standing for Parliament.
She said: "If pay is too low it will only be attractive to the wealthy."
But Labour MP John Mann said: "It shows that MPs still don't get it when it comes to pay and expenses.
"Everyone else in the country except the very rich are suffering, yet MPs are still crying about how much they are paid. It won't sit well with voters."
IPSA chief Sir Ian Kennedy said: "The consultation has been hugely informative."
And MPs get this on top of their salary...
MPs get a huge range of perks on top of their £65,738-a-year pay packets.
These include no-interest loans, cut-price meals and free taxi journeys and overnight accommodation.
The cost to the taxpayer of subsidised food and drink in the Houses of Parliament in 2011 was £5.8million
Politicians are allowed free loans towards the cost of their expenses. And until last summer they could claim mortgage interest on second homes.
They are also allowed £15 towards an evening meal if the Commons sits after 7.30pm. If they are staying outside London, they can claim £25 for an evening meal.
MPs travelling on Parliamentary business are allowed up to £80 for taxis and up to £150 per night for a hotel.
Those with seats outside the capital can also claim a maximum £20,000 a year for rent.
They can get £22,000 towards office costs. And MPs in the capital get an extra £3,760 a year towards "additional expenses of living in the London area".
This year the Commons is sitting for 171 days – meaning MPs will be away from Parliament for 194 days.
But they argue most of this time is taken up with constituency duties.
On top of perks and pay, MPs also enjoy gold-plated final salary pensions.
For each year in Parliament they normally receive a retirement salary of either 1/40th, 1/50th or 1/60th of their final salary – depending on how much they chose to pay in during their career.
If they want the top pension they have to contribute 11.9% of their salary.
An MP serving the average term of 15 years, paying the top rate, would walk away with £22,500 a year.
Members can also choose to exchange part of their pension for a tax-free lump sum of up to 25% of the value of their pension.
Do MPs deserve a pay rise?
No says Labour MP Teresa Pearce
WE need an open discussion about the role of an MP and a debate about what our pay should be. But not now.
We need to be aware life is really hard for everybody apart from the very rich.
It's obscene that this Government is cutting benefits which will drive more families below the poverty line.
If we are really all in this together, then it cannot be everyone except us.
Being an MP is a difficult job, but there are only 650 of us at any one time and I think it's a real privilege for us all to serve our communities.
Personally, I took a £25,000 pay cut to be an MP. Anyone doing this job for the salary shouldn't be there.
Yes says Tory MP Andrew Bridgen
It's a very, very taboo subject as far as MPs are concerned.
Put it in perspective, MPs are paid about the same as a junior school head teacher.
Most of my colleagues on the Government benches took a pay cut to be MPs.
Anyone who is earning good money in business, or in the public sector with a family – that's a very, very difficult decision.
There's a whole lot of people who won't be able to be MPs.
You either have to have people who think £65,000 is a lot of money or people who think £65,000 is insignificant.
The vast majority of the public are in the middle and they would struggle to be an MP I think.
* Andrew Bridgen was speaking on the BBC.
Do MPs deserve a pay rise?
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