MPs' pay to rise by more than £2,000 from April in inflation-busting boost
2 min read
MPs will see their pay go up to just short of £80,000 a year from April, the body which sets members’ salaries has confirmed.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said basic pay will go up from £77,379 to £79,468.
The 2.7% boost comes after inflation fell to a two-year low in January to 1.8% - meaning MPs will get rise above the increase in the cost of living.
The watchdog also confirmed the additional salary paid to MPs who chair parliamentary committees will increase by the same figure from £15,509 to £15,928.
Additional entitlements for ministers and shadow ministers are administered separately.
IPSA said of the changes: "This is in line with our determination on MPs’ pay, published in July 2015, where we committed to adjusting MPs’ pay at the same rate as changes in public sector earnings published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
"This was confirmed in July 2018 following a further review of MPs’ pay."
The rise follows last year’s 1.8% increase, a 1.4% rise in their basic salary in 2017, a 1.3% rise in 2016 and the 10% rise in 2015.
Harry Fone of the TaxPayers’ Alliance pressure group said: "A lot of taxpayers are going to be annoyed by this announcement.
“In the private sector, pay rises and bonuses are rewarded based on performance, not for just turning up. IPSA are once again out of touch with the public."
IPSA was formed in 2009 in responses to the expenses scandal to regulate MPs’ business costs and expenses, determine their pay and pension arrangements and provide financial support in carrying out their parliamentary duties.
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