Showdown over pay rise for MPs after watchdog rows with ministers who want him to scrap £7,600 salary hike Andrew Lansley confronts Sir Ian Kennedy and asks him to abandon plan David Cameron has spoken against proposal to raise salaries to £74,000 But the Ipsa chair insists he must remain independent of ministers The man who wants to increase MPs" pay by £7,600 a year has told a Government minister to stop interfering with his work. Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), was told by Leader of the House Andrew Lansley it was the Prime Minister's view that he should row back on his plans. But Sir Ian, who has been under political attack since floating the idea of raising MPs" salaries from £66,396 to £74,000, refused, saying: "I am independent and intend to stay that way." Sir Ian met Mr Lansley in a private room in the Commons on Monday to discuss his final recommendations on pay, which are expected at the end of next month. David Cameron reacted angrily in July when Sir Ian, who is paid £700 a day to advise on MPs" remuneration, suggested an 11 per cent rise in 2015. He said: "We can't see the cost of politics or Westminster go up." And Education Secretary Michael Gove dismissed IPSA as a "silly organisation" and said they could "stick" their proposed hike. But when Mr Lansley told Sir Ian during the meeting that he should take account of the Government's views, Sir Ian dug his heels in. Concern: Ministers are anxious to avoid increasing the cost of running Parliament over fears of a public backlash "There was a definite "back off" moment," said a source who witnessed the exchange. Sir Ian said that he had been appointed to come up with independent proposals and it was improper to try to influence him. "When Lansley [said] it was the PM's view the cost of politics should come down, Sir Ian finally agreed to "go away and think about it."" A spokesman for Mr Lansley said: "The proposal would leave taxpayers with a total extra bill of £500,000 a year, when the Prime Minister has made clear that the total cost of politics should be falling. Sir Ian agreed to reflect on these views. An IPSA spokesman said it is "absolutely right that MPs no longer set their own pay," adding: "Parliament asked IPSA to address this issue and to do so independently. That is exactly what we'll do.