MPs to be paid £82k as they receive 3.1% pay rise
Written by News on 05/03/2020
MPs will receive a pay rise of 3.1% next month, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has said.
The increase will raise MPs’ basic pay from £79,468 to £81,932 and will be effective from 1 April.
It comes after the IPSA’s decision in 2018 to adjust the pay of MPs at the same rate as public sector earnings, which are published by the Office of National Statistics.
IPSA interim chair Richard Lloyd said: “Our review of MPs’ staffing budgets in 2019 found demands on MPs’ offices were high, with staff doing difficult and stressful casework with constituents on a very wide range of problems.
“There was often high staff turnover, with salary levels below comparable roles elsewhere, based on independent benchmarked evidence.”
He added that many MPs were spending “relatively little time or money” on staff training, wellbeing and development.
“As a result, we have provided additional funding in MPs’ 2020-21 staffing budgets for staff training and welfare, security, and changes to the salary bands and job descriptions for MPs’ staff to bring them into line with the jobs they actually do,” he continued.
The announcement marks the first time MPs’ salaries have been more than £80,000.
It is also an increase of the £65,738 salary in April 2010.
MPs who hold other duties typically receive an additional salary such as chairs of select committees and ministers.
Select committee chairs will now be paid an extra £16,422, up from £15,928 in April 2019.
The Office of National Statistics said the most recent wage growth figures in December last year showed total earnings increased by 2.9% – showing slower growth than had been seen for the rest of 2019.
Cabinet Office figures show in 2019 the prime minister was entitled to a second salary of £79,286.
Meanwhile, senior ministers including the Chancellor and Secretaries of State were entitled to up to £71,090.
The salaries actually claimed were approximately £4,000 less than their full entitlement.
IPSA has no role in setting ministerial salaries.
(c) Sky News 2020: MPs to be paid £82k as they receive 3.1% pay rise
