AN MP is asking residents to recommend charities to receive her 10% pay rise.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield has announced that she will not be accepting the decision by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to boost her pay packet by 10% just two months into the role.

Instead the Conservative MP will donate the additional £7000 she is set to receive in her annual pay packet to charity.

She follows in the footsteps of Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas who has also indicated her intention to donate the increase to charity.

Ms Caulfield said: “I have consistently opposed the suggestion of increasing MPs’ pay, especially at a time when pay restraint is being encouraged elsewhere in the public sector.

"That is why I backed the action to freeze pay for ministers and why I will be donating this pay increase to local charities.

“Having worked as a nurse right up until the election I could not in all honesty take a 10% pay rise while my former colleagues get 1%.

“Instead, I will donate a regular sum of money to local charities and will publish details on my website so residents can see who is benefiting.”

Residents to nominate charities worthy of a donation to mariacaulfield.co.uk/contact or email maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk.