by Katie Alston

There are few workers that have to do the same hours as MPs.

That is the claim of Thanet North MP Roger Gale as the debate about how much MPs should be paid rages on.

Mr Gale says he works between 70 and 80 hours a week and believes a balance needs to be struck if the right type of person is to be brought into the House of Commons.

He said the hours MPs have to work runs the risk of people overlooking politics as a profession in the future, with the demands of having to be in London from 8am until 10pm.

The Herne Bay MP also argues he earns 50 per cent less than GPs, drawing a comparison to the head teacher of Herne Bay High.

Mr Gale said: "Five years ago I noted that my salary was about the same as the head teacher of Herne Bay secondary school and, although I haven't checked the figures recently, I understand my salary is now about the same as a head of department in the same school. So in five years that is how much MPs salaries have fallen behind.

"People say we earn a lot more than the national average, which is true but what is their comparator. Are members of parliament treated as professional people or do you expect us to be treated on the same basis as the national average?

"Because if so you won't get the good men and women with the experience, knowledge and understanding of how the world works that parliament needs.

"It is easier for me, my children have grown up and I have been through the hard times. I took a pay cut of two-thirds to become a member of parliament and remortgaged my house five times.

"Having people from all walks of life in the Commons, that is how it should be, I don't want it to go back to being a playground for the very rich, so a balance must be struck."