We, the undersigned, think that now is the time for a drastic reform to UK MP's pay, expenses, and benefits. This petition is for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), who are the independent body that regulates and administers the business costs, and decides the pay and pensions of the 650 elected MP's and their staff in the UK.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, today (17th November 2022) announced during the autumn statement that "fair solutions" and "difficult decisions" will be made in order to bring "us" through this current financial crisis. Taxes are rising, the cost of everything is rising, and cuts to vital public services are almost inevitable. We believe that MP's should be included in these fair solutions and difficult decisions.

The current basic salary of an MP in the UK is £84,144 per year, which has seen a 28% increase in the past 10 years. This should be cut by 50% by April 2023.

The current addition salary for the Prime Minister is £79,496 per year. This should be cut by 50% by April 2023.

MP's who chair Select Committees, or who are members of the Panel of Chairs, are entitled to an additional salary of £16,865 per year. This should be cut by 50% by April 2023.

MP's who have additional duties, like Government Ministers, also receive additional pay and benefits. These are too many to list, but these should be cut by 50% by April 2023.

All former Prime Ministers are able to claim the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA), currently set at a maximum of £115,000 per year. This should be stopped immediately.

MP's are also entitled to a severance payment of 25% of the annual salary for the post that minister has left. This should be stopped immediately.

MP's are also able to claim expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London or their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency. On top of these expenses, MPs also get a limited sum per year for postage-paid envelopes and House of Commons stationery. Each member of the House of Commons gets £9,000 for this. These expenses should be more closely scrutinised, as it has become public knowledge that some MP's (past and present) have been taking advantage of these.

Our Government believe that we are all in this together, and that tax rises and cost cutting is needed. If they truly believe this, then they should understand that the changes listed above are also needed. If healthcare staff, police staff, transport staff, etc, are all having to work more and more for effectively less pay, then so should our elected officials.

We, the undersigned, sincerely hope that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) takes this petition seriously. Thank you.