Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will accept a 5.5% increase in his MP salary, taking it from £86,584 to £91,346 from April, Downing Street has confirmed. The rise, recommended by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), exceeds the current consumer price inflation rate of 4%.
The prime minister's spokesperson said all Commons ministers would receive the Ipsa-awarded rise, though they have opted to forgo increases to their separate ministerial salaries, which have remained frozen since 2010. Sunak's total income last year was £2.2 million, including £1.8 million in capital gains from a US-based blind trust.
The pay uplift, in line with a recent increase for the senior civil service, has drawn criticism given the cost-of-living crisis. Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have a combined wealth estimated at £529 million, according to the Sunday Times rich list.
Ipsa chair Richard Lloyd defended the decision, stating: 'Serving as an MP should not be reserved to those wealthy enough to fund it themselves. We believe our decision recognises the vital role MPs play in our democracy.' The watchdog was established in 2009 following the MPs' expenses scandal.
