The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has announced that MPs' basic annual salary will increase by 5% to £98,599 from April, with projections reaching £110,000 by the end of the current parliament. The above-inflation rise is justified by Ipsa citing increased abuse, intimidation, and growing constituency workloads.
Ipsa chair Richard Lloyd stated that the role of an MP has evolved, with higher levels of complex casework driven by economic pressures and global events. He noted that abuse and intimidation towards MPs and their staff have been growing, alongside increasing safety risks.
The pay increase comprises a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment and a 1.5% benchmarking adjustment, based on comparisons with similar public sector roles and parliamentarians in other democracies. MPs have not set their own salaries since Ipsa took over after the 2009 expenses scandal.
The Taxpayers' Alliance criticised the rise, arguing that taxpayers will be angered by politicians receiving an inflation-busting pay rise while many in the private sector face a personal recession. The group called for MPs' pay to be linked to real living standards measured by GDP per capita.
By the end of the parliament, MPs' salaries will exceed £100,000 for the first time, potentially triggering the '£100k tax trap' where those earning between £100,000 and £125,140 may lose personal allowances and childcare benefits. Ipsa said it will consider economic conditions in future pay decisions.
A recent survey for a speaker's conference on abuse found that 96% of MPs and 69% of staff had experienced abuse in their role. About one in three MPs considered not standing for re-election, and one in six had considered resigning due to abuse.
