MPs 'should be worried' as public vent anger over pay and pensions

Another said: “They are overpaid, underworked and receive far too many perks. We are in a recession and suffering excessive austerity cuts.

“If we are all in this together then it’s about time the MP's took a hit and feel some of the pain their constituents are feeling.

A third suggested MPs should be paid the same amount as British army privates, and another argued London accommodation should be in a dedicated apartment block

Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative minister, said she favoured enlarging salaries and scrapping the second home allowance, adding: “I am alarmed by the enormous disparity between the pay of an MP and the average pay of a GP or the head of a comprehensive school.”

Alastair Campbell, former communications chief for Tony Blair, said: “If we decide they should not get a salary that befits a challenging and important job, then I fear we will narrow the field of talent willing to enter Parliament.”

Jon Snow, Channel 4 newsreader, said: “A basket of other salaries should be used as a comparator. I would suggest a GP, a police chief inspector, a deputy headteacher and a prison governor. The mean salary of these positions should represent the pay of an MP. Pensions should be evaluated the same way.”

The watchdog is aiming to draw their final conclusions in Spring 2013.