George Freeman: Voters criticise MP who 'couldn't afford' mortgage

Voters have criticised a Conservative MP who claimed he could not afford to pay his mortgage on a £118,300 ministerial salary.

Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman quit as science minister in November, in order to take other jobs to make ends meet.

Constituent Jamie Langham said he had "no sympathy" for the MP.

However, Bill Borrett, chairman of Mid Norfolk Conservative Association, defended Mr Freeman and said he had the association's full support.

"An MP telling the truth is always unusual. I think it's an endearing quality, to be honest. People will like that, won't they?" he said.

Regarding those criticising the MP, Mr Borrett said: "Maybe they're not supporters of the Conservatives."

In a blog post, Mr Freeman wrote: "My mortgage rises this month from £800pcm to £2,000, which I simply couldn't afford to pay on a ministerial salary."

Callers to radio phone-ins, those commenting online and in Mr Freeman's constituency had little sympathy.

Hannah Hirst, who lives in Watton and is represented by Mr Freeman, posted: "Boohoo poor Mr Freeman.. such a hard life he leads isn't it.. maybe he should stop spending on other luxury items he has failed to mention?

"Absolute joke.. least he admits the Tories ain't got a chance in election."

Katt Chilvers, 36, lives in Dereham and like Mr Freeman, her mortgage is also rising from £800 to £2,000 per month.

But, she said, she and her husband earn nothing like Mr Freeman did.

"I've got to do it on a not six-figure salary. If he's struggling, what's he doing?" she asked.

"Me and my husband both work full-time and have to juggle childcare costs along with the cost of living."

She advised her MP to "downsize, get a smaller place".

Retired teacher Nick Tarrant, also of Watton, said: "He just quit £118,000 as science minister. After tax etc only leaves him with £72,000.

"New mortgage of £2,000 only leaves him with £48,000 to live on, poor dear. Is there anywhere we can donate to support him?"

Jamie Langham, manager of a butcher shop in Dereham, said: "Sounds like he needs a new mortgage adviser.

"There's no sympathy there. You should be able to live on £118,000. Maybe downsize your house?"

A caller to Nicky Campbell's BBC 5 Live show, Sarah, of Kendal, Cumbria, said: "I was outraged. My children and myself, our combined income is less than George Freeman's.

"Their mortgages have all gone up at the back of last year. They are managing to pay it, with difficulty.

"They're making cuts elsewhere to pay for their mortgages and I just wonder how the rest of us are going to live if Mr Freeman can't manage."

Tim Roberts, Eastern regional secretary of trade union Unison, said: "Norfolk's public service workers will be busy looking for the tiniest violin available to play George Freeman out of office.

"He makes four times more than care staff in his constituency and three times more than the nurses and social workers whose wages his party has been dogmatically holding down.

"If he's struggling with the disastrous effects of Tory economic policies, he should try to imagine how the rest of us are coping after 14 years of real-terms wage cuts and an all-out assault on the public services that could have been there to help pick up the pieces.

"Voters in Mid Norfolk will now be stuck with a part-time MP more interested in topping up his pay packet than looking after their interests."

Some, however, had more sympathy for the MP's position.

Posting on Facebook, John Edwards said: "UK MPs are the lowest paid in Europe. Pay peanuts, get monkeys."

James Hyde posted: "So many clearly have no clue how this works. His mortgage would be based on his income like everyone else. Cost of living goes up for EVERYONE not just a few."

Mr Freeman, 56, has been a Norfolk MP since 2010, and held ministerial posts in successive Conservative governments, receiving severance payments after departing.

He resigned as a minister amid Rishi Sunak's recent cabinet reshuffle and explained in his blog: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."

Mr Freeman, who spent more than a decade in the life sciences and technology sectors before entering Parliament, will be now able to make more money outside of government.

On top of his MP's salary of £86,584, he is free to take on second jobs, subject to approval by anti-corruption watchdog the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

The UK annual median wage for full-time workers is £34,963.

Many homeowners like, Mr Freeman, are facing steep increases in monthly mortgage payments as they come off fixed-rate deals.

It comes after mortgage rates soared and the value of the pound tumbled in the wake of Liz Truss's mini-Budget in September 2022.

They had already been on the rise after a string of rate hikes by the Bank of England to curb inflation.

The politician, who has a 23,000 majority, said he planned to stand for re-election at the general election this year, but said: "It looks very likely that we're going to have a Labour government."

The BBC asked Mr Freeman if he wished to respond to the public's comments, but he declined to do so.

No 10 said it had "no plans to change our approach to ministerial pay".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "It's right that we ensure that ministerial pay reflects the wider fiscal situation."

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