OUR MPs could shortly be granting themselves a 2.6 per cent rise in their basic £60,000 pay, plus expenses and allowances, which could take them into the £150,000- plus range. For what?

On three occasions I've viewed Today in Parliament and was thoroughly disgusted at the total absence of our representatives.

No 1: Welfare and Care of Our Armed Forces, with 11 MPs present.

No 2: Police Stop and Search, 22 present.

No 3: Mental Health and After Care, 25 present.

Where were the other 600 skiving off to? Second, even third jobs?

If this was a business it would have collapsed or all would have been sacked for receiving money under false pretences.

"Ah," they say. "We were attending our surgeries at the time."

All 600-plus? All at the same time?

Don't they have well-paid staff to answer their constituents' queries?

Over the past ten years I've more respect for a nurse on the ward or policeman on patrol than 100 MPs.

Can any reader recall a visit or even sight of their MP on a walking or face-to-face encounter (General Election vote excluded).

A word to our MPs - Wake up or way out.

R Harbron, Norton, Stockton.