Liberal Democrats in Business

News and views from the Lib Dem Trade and Industry Team, Vince Cable and Brian Cotter

British Fat Cats Get the Cream

1.57.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 31st Jul 2003

Vincent Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary

Britain's top executives got average pay rises of 23% in the last year according to new research by Management Today magazine.

Chiefs of FTSE 100 companies saw average pay increase to nearly £1.7m. Chiefs of midsize companies became the 2nd best paid in the world with only their American counterparts being paid more. UK directors in London (£210,000) are paid double the amount of their counterparts in the West Midlands (£105,000).

Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said: "23% increases are shocking by any measure."

"For the most part, these are not rewards for success as most FTSE companies have been going through a torrid time as falling share prices hit shareholder wealth."

"This survey demonstrates that the UK's top executives are not being rewarded on merit or by market forces, but are supping the cream served up by other fat cats on remuneration committees."

"It is essential that Patricia Hewitt gets to grips with this problem instead of merely tossing it around for discussion."

[Print this story]
[Previous story]: British Energy Bail Out Must End - Stunell (Wed 30th Jul 2003).
[Next story]: Bailout Culture: Disastrous Return to 1970's (Fri 1st Aug 2003).
[Other news stories from July 2003 (40)]

Related News Stories:

Thu 26th Jun 2003:

Mon 2nd Jun 2003:

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Partners, 16 Riviera Court, Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3RP.
Published and promoted by Liberal Democrats in Business, 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.