MPs are in line for an inflation-busting pay rise that will take their basic salary to £110,000 by the end of the parliament, the expenses watchdog has announced. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) said the increase was justified by rising abuse and intimidation against politicians, as well as growing constituency workloads.
From April, MPs' basic pay will rise by almost £5,000 to £98,599 – a jump of 5%, well above the current rate of inflation. This comprises a 3.5% increase for the cost of living and a further 1.5% “benchmarking adjustment”. Ipsa said the pay had been benchmarked against similar roles in the public sector and comparable democracies.
“The role of an MP has evolved,” said Ipsa's chair, Richard Lloyd. “MPs are dealing with higher levels of complex casework than ever before, driven by economic pressures and global and domestic events. Abuse and intimidation towards MPs and their staff have also been growing, and there are increasing risks to their safety.”
The rise was condemned by the Taxpayers' Alliance, which said voters would be “seething” while many in the private sector face a “personal recession”. The lobby group argued that politicians should not be insulated from economic reality, and that their pay should be linked to real living standards measured by GDP per capita.
The increase will take MPs' salaries over the £100,000 threshold for the first time, a level that triggers the loss of personal allowance and childcare entitlements – a “tax trap” that could leave some MPs with young children worse off. Ipsa said future pay decisions would take account of broader economic and fiscal conditions. A recent survey found that 96% of MPs and 69% of their staff had experienced abuse in their role, with one in three MPs considering not standing for re-election and one in six considering resignation.
