The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) watchdog is expected to recommend a rise in the basic annual salary of MPs from £66,396 to £74,000, although it has been suggested that the package will include increased pension contributions.
Martin described the timing of the announcement, when pay for most workers in both the public and private sectors is failing to keep pace with inflation, as "appalling".
But he insisted that it was only right that MPs' pay was set independently.
He said: "After the expenses scandal, the almost unanimous view was that MPs should not set their own pay.
"The irony is that if MPs were responsible there wouldn't be an increase, but the public quite rightly wanted it taken out of MPs' hands.
"We have got the inevitable unintended consequence, and now the irony is people want MPs to make the decision, but you can't have it both ways."
"I accepted the terms and conditions when I applied for the job, and I was reselected a year ago not knowing what the rate of pay would be, but I accepted it on the current rate of pay."
Asked if he could understand public anger at the proposal, he said: "We live in a low-pay economy in our part of the country and it is appalling timing to come up with it now, but once you take it out of democratically accountable hands you lose the contact with public opinion."