TWO East Lancashire MPs have spoken out against colleagues who are demanding £40,000 extra pay to push their salaries up to £100,000.

A number of Labour and Conservative MPs are said to have written to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) asking for the 66 per cent increase in pay - to bring them in line with GPs and high-earning civil servants.

But East Lancashire Labour MPs Greg Pope and Gordon Prentice have condemned the call for more pay. Mr Pope, MP for Hyndburn, said: "I don't think it is for me to decide my own pay rise.

"I don't agree at all. They should not give me a £40 ,000 rise. It will be a small handful who will write. There is no justification."

Mr Prentice, MP for Pendle, said: "I have not written a letter. I do not approve of any increase."

A spokesman for Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "He will write, but on behalf of the government, rather than as a constituency MP.

"I can't tell you if it will be in support of a rise yet because that decision has not been made."

Janet Anderson, Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen said: "I have not written any letter to the body and do not plan to.

"I shall await the outcome of the committee."

Lancashire's other two MPs, Kitty Ussher, of Burnley and Ribble Valley member Nigel Evans, were unavailable for comment.

MPs have until Friday to make a submission about their pay.

The Senior Salaries Review Body's report is due to be submitted to the Prime Minister next summer.