The Chairman of the Civil Service Commission has launched a broadside against president of the Isle of Man Trade Union Council, Angela Maffatt.

Ms Mofffatt has said it would be 'outrageous' for politicians to receive what she called 'a pay rise', after it emerged members of Tynwald are to be consulted over plans for them to contribute to their own pensions.

She says the proposal, if implemented, would represent a pay rise of 17 per cent.

But chairman of the Civil Service Commission Alf Cannan says the net result would be an eight per cent cut in politicians' basic salaries.

He also claims Ms Moffatt is using the figures as a ploy to distract attention away from the real issue of resolving outstanding issues concerning the unified pension scheme (first part of audio file):

Mr Cannan, the MHK for Michael, says the pensions issue needs to sorted out quickly, and is warning that if Ms Moffatt hasn't balloted her members in the next few weeks he will recommend to the chief minister that negotiations to date should be be ripped up.

He says the process could then start again, along the lines of recommendations in the Hutton Report.

Mr Cannan is accusing Ms Moffatt of 'playing games' and being out of touch with reality (second part of audio file):

It's understood members of Tynwald may be asked to pay five per cent towards their pensions.

However, at the same time it's being proposed that a tax-free lump sum of over ?6,000 which they currently receive should be scrapped but consolidated into their basic salaries.

The money covers the cost of phone calls, postage and other expenditure incurred in the course of their parliamentary duties.