Pay rise, expenses and the G20

Now we learn that MPs are to get a pay rise of 2.3% from April this year.

The news-story will be rolled into one with the MPs’ allowances figures, released later today a little earlier than expected.

It means the worst of the inevitable criticism over the pay rise and allowances will be over in a day or two – cleared away by G20 coverage.

And all this on a day when Jacqui Smith would’ve been praying for something to take focus off her.