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Top row from the left: Alistair Darling, Russell Brown, Gemma Doyle, Michael McCann, Tom Clarke, Charles Kennedy, Ian Davidson. Second row: Malcolm Bruce, Frank Doran, Sheila Gilmore, John Robertson, Tom Harris, Tom Greatrex, Jim McGovern. Third row: Cathy Jamieson, Iain McKenzie, Jim Sheridan, Jo Swinson, John Thurso, Mike Crockart, Robert Smith. Bottom row: Jim Murphy, Eric Joyce, Michael Moore, Pamela Nash, Jimmy Hood.

COWARDLY Scots MPs last night refused to come out and say if they are in favour of their impending 11 per cent pay rise – despite many saying in private that they are.

When we asked all 59 members for their position, only 33 had the courtesy to reply.

Just one MP, Labour’s Brian Donohoe – widely seen as a shop steward for MPs who back the rise but are too scared to say so – publicly defended the increase.

But 32 others said it was unacceptable while public sector pay is restrained to just one per cent annual rises.

Yesterday, the organisation who sets political salaries defended the hike on the grounds it will not cost the taxpayer “a penny more” as MPs’ expenses will be cut in return.

But David Cameron and Ed Miliband called for a rethink of the recommendation yesterday by parliamentary pay watchdog Ipsa to increase MPs’ salaries to £74,000 in 2015.

IPSA boss Sir Ian Kennedy said MPs deserve a “one-off uplift” in pay and vowed to push ahead with it despite the PM refusing to “rule anything out” to prevent the move.

Unveiling their recommendations yesterday, IPSA said MPs’ pay had slipped below other public sector professionals.

Kennedy said: “Whatever measure you choose, including international comparisons and historic trends, they all lead to the same conclusion – MPs’ pay has fallen behind. It needs to catch up.”

Among those who didn’t reply were senior Lib Dems Malcolm Bruce and Charles Kennedy and senior Labour MPs Tom Harris of Glasgow South and Jimmy Hood of Lanark and Hamilton East.

Senior Lib Dem Menzies Campbell said the rise “is wholly unacceptable in present circumstances”.

Gordon Banks, Labour MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said: “This pay rise can’t go ahead in the middle of the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation.”

Michael Connarty, Labour MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, said: “Are IPSA mad? It is ludicrous to increase MPs’ wages by any more than other deserving public servants.”

But Central Ayrshire MP Donohoe said it was right for the rise to go ahead, adding: “This is not an 11 per cent pay rise, it is a package that in the end will be cost-neutral. Pensions and other expenses are to be cut to make up the balance.”

SNP MPs gave a group response against the pay rise, with Moray MP Angus Robertson saying: “Our group of MPs would not accept the 11 per cent pay rise.

“We are extremely confident the people of Scotland will vote Yes next September, which means no MPs at Westminster and a saving to the Scottish taxpayer of £50million a year.”