Labour backbenchers could revolt over an inflation-busting pay rise for the Lord Chancellor at a time of public sector restraint.

Lord Irvine's �22,000 increase is a rise of 12.6% at a time teachers and members of the armed forces are getting increases of around 3%.

Despite the rise coming as a result of a legally binding but antiquated pay structure, it has prompted outrage.

What worth is he more than a teacher Ian Gibson MP Labour backbencher

Labour MP Ian Gibson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he and other backbenchers would be lodging Commons motions to protest against Lord Irvine's pay rise.

"I am sure there's a few friends of mine out there this morning before they go and do their surgeries who will be thinking about various motions next week and various questions will be asked and quite right too."

The MP for Norwich North said public sector workers might ask "What does this guy do really for a living, this Lord Chancellor?".

MPs rise

He added: "One thing that's sure is that the rich seem to be getting richer all the time.

"You can have all the formulas you like in the world and hide behind them, but at the end of the day you have to say what worth is he more than a teacher?"

In cash terms Lord Irvine's rise - which will see his salary rise to �202,736 from 1 April this year - is 50 times better than the �467 increase of an Army private.

Labour MPs are said to be angry

The increase is still five times higher than the 2.25% awarded to other ministers and MPs, as well as higher ranks in the military.

Lord Irvine's salary is governed by law which dictates that he must always receive an annual salary �2,500 higher than the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf.

Thus he will get a 2.75% increase awarded to all judges, plus another 4.4% as the final stage of their 2002 award.

But Lord Woolf will also receive a further �10,000, as the senior full-time serving judge. It is designed to redress the "slippage" in recent years between his pay and that of the Cabinet Secretary as head of the civil service.

That in turn means another �10,000 for Lord Irvine.

Shadow chancellor Michael Howard described the award as "outrageous".

They lecture us about the consequences of us seeking a fair pay rise and they have the cheek to fill their own pockets Fire Brigades Union spokesman

"There is clearly one rule for hard-working public servants and another for New Labour cronies," he said.

Downing Street said that all the awards were the result of independent reviews.

John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB, added: "I trust that Lord Irvine will be supporting similar pay rises for other public service workers."

A Fire Brigades Union spokesman said Lord Irvine's �22,000 increase was more than the highest paid firefighter's annual salary.

"They lecture us about the consequences of us seeking a fair pay rise and they have the cheek to fill their own pockets," he said.

Lord Irvine faced criticism earlier this month over revelations that his pension package from the stage will be worth �2m when he retires, added to any private pensions from his career as a barrister.