IT stinks of hypocrisy that, en masse, MPs can vote themselves a £24,000 pay rise, yet farmers who put in honest claims for compensation for loss of livestock due to foot and mouth disease need to be investigated.

Should not MPs be investigated about their massive self-awarded pay rise? They should ask how much these farmers would need to spend to buy new stock of animals.

BARRY WALSH, Calgary Avenue, Lammack, Blackburn.