Lest We Forget: Parliament waited until after the 2015 General Election to confirm they would pocket their bumper payrise. What else did they forget to tell us before we voted in May 2015?

In December 2013 the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) gave MPs a pay rise to £74,000 per year starting from immediately after the May 2015 General Election. (The payrise will come into force in the autumn, but will be backdated to the General Election). We say "gave" and not "recommended" because ministers say they don't have the power to overrule IPSA and reject the extra cash. They said it would make a nonsense of IPSA's independence. Though they didn't think the same when they overruled another independent pay review recommending a 1% rise for NHS staff.

All the main party leaders, Tory; Labour; SNP; LibDem, stated that the bumper payrise for MPs planned for 2015 was "totally unacceptable".

The Telegraph newspaper wrote to all 650 MPs to ask whether they would accept the payrise, and published their responses or that they remained silent. The Telegraph reported that:
"One in ten MPs has announced they plan to reject an 11 per cent pay rise but the vast majority have refused to say if they will accept it".

Then, less than 3 weeks after the May 2015 general election, the Daily Mail reported:
"Prime Minister will not block 10% rise for MPs: U-turn by Cameron after backbench protests...The decision means MPs will now almost certainly see their salaries rise by £7,000 to £74,000 a year following a final review by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. The pay rise, expected in the autumn, will be backdated to the General Election."

You can understand MPs postponing pocketing an extra few grand until after the election. Something they'd rather you don't remember as you go to the polling station. In case you might forget, here is a list of a few more things our politicians decided they'd rather leave until after we had finished voting. Did the Tories think a Labour government, should it have been elected, would do a better job? Probably not: 

MPs fury as HBOS bank report delayed until after the election

MPs have hit out after it emerged that the publication of a report into the collapse of Halifax Bank of Scotland has been delayed until after the General Election. Insiders expect the findings will not now be unveiled until at least the autumn. Almost seven years have passed since HBOS required a multi-billion pound taxpayer-funded bail out at the height of the financial crisis. HERALD SCOTLAND

Chilcot report on Iraq war delayed until after general election

The six-year-long British inquiry into the 2003 Iraq invasion and its aftermath will not be published before the general election, prompting an outcry from those demanding that the long overdue reckoning should be put before the voters. GUARDIAN

Andy Coulson perjury trial delayed until after general election

The trial of Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor who is facing a perjury charge, has been pushed back until after the general election.

The case was due to start at the high court in Edinburgh on 21 April, but on Monday the Judiciary of Scotland announced a new start date of 11 May.

The charge relates to the trial of the former Scottish Socialist MSP, Tommy Sheridan, and his wife, Gail, in December 2010, during which Coulson, a former director of communications for David Cameron, gave evidence. GUARDIAN

Water cannon decision delayed until after election

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has delayed making a decision on whether to allow water cannon to be used for the first time on the British mainland.

The controversial equipment needs authorisation from the Home Office before it can be deployed but Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has already bought three second-hand cannon from Germany at a cost of £218,000. TELEGRAPH

Big Six energy companies force climbdown in energy profits storm: Ofgem ditches its controversial set of forecasts as industry hits back.

It is understood that the decision to suspend publication of the Supply Market Indicator (SMI) was delayed until after the General Election.

Regulator Ofgem has backed down and stopped publishing its controversial forecasts of the profit margins of energy companies in the face of criticism from the industry. DAILYMAIL

Officials delay shale gas decisions until after election

British officials have delayed decisions on whether to allow Cuadrilla to explore for shale gas at two sites in northwest England until after next month's general election. REUTERS

Honours list: David Cameron to delay announcement until after election

David Cameron is planning to postpone the announcement of the next honours list until after the election, because he is worried that Conservatives he nominates might be embroiled in a scandal before polling day. INDEPENDENT

Government delays decision to semi-privatise court bailiff services until after election

The semi-privatisation of chasing court fines has been delayed until after the general election. On Monday [16th Feb 2015], the Evening Standard reported that BT is in pole position for the long-delayed deal, which is estimated to be worth nearly £700 million to the telephony giant. But it was unclear whether Justice Secretary Chris Grayling would get the contract signed before the general election in May. EVENINGSTANDARD

Police Scotland slammed for delaying publication of serious crime figures until after general election

A RAFT of statistics on domestic abuse, race hate, drug and gun offences were meant to be made public over the next month - but have now been delayed until autumn. DAILYRECORD

Police's failure to investigate rapes report shelved until after general election

A scathing review of the police’s failure to investigate rapes has been delayed until after the ­election to avoid a public outcry.

Officers have been told the damning report, which was due to be published last month, has been shelved because of “political interference”. MIRROR

Decision on when to sell taxpayers' stake in RBS will be delayed until after general election

The UK government will decide after the General Election in May when to start selling taxpayers' 81% stake in RBS. DAILYMAIL

IDS hides poverty statistics until after the election

Crucial statistics on the effects of the governments welfare reforms will be deliberately delayed until after the election, to prevent academics and campaigners discovering the effects of policies such as the bedroom tax, changes to disability living allowance and employment and support allowance and increased sanctions. BENEFITSAND WORK NEWS

Hospital review report delayed until after General Election

A LONG-awaited independent report into an extensive review of hospital services in Worcestershire will not be released until after May’s General Election, it has been revealed. WORCESTERNEWS

Benefits Street is now on hold in case it affects General Election

Channel 4 have put a hold on their controversial series Benefits Street – in case us fickle viewers are swayed heavily in which way we vote in the election. METRO