MPs are set for a 5 per cent pay rise in April, taking their salary to £98,599, a higher increase than that awarded to NHS staff and most other public sector workers. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced the rise, citing the increasing complexity of the role, including higher levels of abuse and intimidation.
IPSA also signalled that MPs' pay would continue to rise, reaching £110,000 by 2029. The watchdog's chair, Richard Lloyd, said the role had evolved, with MPs dealing with more complex casework and growing abuse. The rise comprises 3.5 per cent for cost of living and 1.5 per cent as a 'benchmarking adjustment'.
The timing is awkward for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is due to deliver her Spring Statement tomorrow. The increase exceeds the 3.3 per cent pay rise for over a million NHS staff and the 4.8 per cent state pension rise, and is well above anticipated inflation. Peers will also benefit, as their tax-free daily allowance is linked to the MP increase, rising from £371 to £390.
IPSA's decision comes despite a recent 'listening exercise' which found that 58 per cent of Britons think MP salaries are too high. However, a citizens' forum of 23 members changed its view after gaining a deeper understanding of the role, with 67 per cent considering MPs' pay about right. John O'Connell of the TaxPayers' Alliance criticised the rise, saying taxpayers would be 'seething' at politicians receiving an inflation-busting pay rise while living standards fall.
