EAST Lancashire MPs are in line for a 1.9 per cent pay rise in line with the government's recommendation - although an independent body had recommended a rise of 2.56 per cent.

MPs were told by party leaders to stick with the 1.9 per cent, the same increase given to other public sector workers.

And just a day after thousands of police officers marched through London in protest at their pay rise, the Commons backed, without a vote, the Government's call for "discipline".

It could be the last time that MPs vote on their pay rise - with the Baker review charged with coming up with a new way of settling awards by the summer.

The decision was backed by East Lancashire's MPs.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said the whole system of agreeing MPs' pay each year needs overhauling.

He said: "I am strongly opposed to MPs voting on pay.

"We now have the opportunity to hand the responsibility to other to decide the pay levels.

"A structure whereby pay increases are linked to other public sector jobs would be ideal.

"An increase of 1.9 per cent is the lowest option on offer and that is what I voted for.

"Public sector workers such as police and nurses have received 1.9 per cent and that figure should be the same for MPs.

"I think the police have been badly treated and it would not be acceptable to the MPs pay rise to be more than that.

"I would not be able to look my constituents in the eye if the rise was more than other public sector workers."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said he backed the government's 1.9 per cent recommendation.

Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson, who is currently in Brussels, said she was backing the government's proposal.

She added: "Why should we take an increase above inflation when other workers are asked to keep their increases below it?

"I do welcome the government putting stops to make us vote in the future."

Chorley MP Linsday Hoyle refused to be involved in any potential vote and was not in Westminster when the pay rise was debated. He said it was "not right" for MPs to decide their pay while police protested against their pay award.

He said: "My view is quite simple - we shouldn't be doing it.

"We should be debating the police's pay. Forget our pay, let's vote on something important."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice and Blackburn MP Jack Straw were unavailable for comment.

Mr Brown had urged MPs to accept a staged award for 2007-8 worth 1.9 per cent instead of the full 2.56 per cent recommended by the independent Senior Salaries Review - a call backed by both the Tory and Liberal Democrat frontbenches.

Under the Government proposal, the increase to £61,820 will be staged so that the in-year value of the increase would be held to 1.9 per cent.