Long-standing plans to give MPs a salary hike will be deferred again today, The Royal Gazette understands.

But Premier Ewart Brown is said to be ready to table legislation giving part-time Minister and Deputy Premier Paula Cox a $50,000 rise to take her salary into line with her full-time Cabinet colleagues.

The United Bermuda Party says it's been told Dr. Brown wants MPs to vote today on a controversial report which recommends lifting their salaries by 30 percent in spite of the economic crisis.

However, sources say the Premier told the Progressive Labour Party on Wednesday night there will be no vote on a pay increase; instead he will invite the House to postpone the implementation of the report.

Dr. Brown will this morning table a bill removing the disparity between part-time and full-time Ministers' pay, lifting Ms Cox's salary from $100,000 to $150,000.

MPs yesterday had mixed views on whether they should get the recommended increase from $50,000 to $65,000 — just four years after their salary went up from $40,000.

The Legislature Salaries Review Board report also suggests Senators get a raise from $27,000 to $40,000.

The report was initially deferred in November 2008 following a backlash from the community, and people speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday suggested opposition is now as fierce as ever.

Independent MP Wayne Furbert said he would have voted against a pay increase, telling this newspaper: "We are asking everybody to economise and make cutbacks. I would not support it. It doesn't make sense. You are asking the hotel workers to freeze their salaries."

But one PLP MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the majority of Parliamentarians were probably in favour of the idea.

"I think we deserve a pay rise because we get paid well below the poverty line. We do a hell of a lot of work, the compensation is very inadequate and MPs are forced to get a second job," said the politician.

"A pay rise would make certain MPs are not employed by someone else, so they could concentrate on their job as an MP.

"Most people are surprised when they find out how little we earn. But given the climate it's understood most people would be quite upset if MPs took any kind of increase."

Yesterday afternoon, UBP Whip Cole Simons released an angry statement on the understanding that a vote over the increase is scheduled.

Mr. Simons, who said he stood by the statement because the UBP had not been given the impression that Dr. Brown was deferring the bill, said: "We are dumbfounded the Government's plan for a Parliamentary pay increase is coming back to the House at this time.

"We have been given an indication the Premier wants a vote on the report, which recommended salary increases up to 30 percent for Members of Parliament and nearly 50 percent for Senators, among others.

"Economic conditions have not improved; in fact they've got worse, much worse, and the need for prudent management is greater than ever.

"Bermuda needs leadership by example, and this is not it. We can't support any pay increase at this time. Bermudians are suffering."

Reacting to the possibility of a pay rise for MPs, Kristi Grayston, chairman of the retail division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, said: "I think it would be fiscally irresponsible, especially after they've asked everyone else to tighten their belts and have cut their Ministries' budgets by 'X' amount of money."

Michael Marsh, organiser of Bermudians for Referendum, said: "Asking anyone to vote on whether he/she gets an increase in salary (or an increase in holidays) is insane.

"Governments should be run like businesses: they should balance their books and employees should earn the right to have a pay increase by their actions and performance.

"Have our politicians performed well enough to warrant a pay increase? I think not."

Richard Foggo, president of the New Bermuda General Truckers Association, said: "Everyone else is tightening their belts so MPs should show a similar example, because things out here are very difficult for everyone right now."

Chairman of the Chamber's Economic Committee, Peter Everson, said: "If the members of the Cabinet wished to demonstrate their commitment to serving the best interests of Bermuda then they should follow the example of the Japanese government who regularly take pay freezes in times of economic hardship.

"Furthermore, the senior members responsible for the management of the economy and the public finances reduce their pay when their performance is shown to be poor."