In line with pay rises for other public sector workers, Members of Parliament have been told theirs could raise by as much as 2.8%. We want to know – do you agree with MPs getting a pay rise?
MPs have been told their salaries could be increased to almost £94,000 – and we want to know if you think they deserve a pay rise.
While not yet confirmed, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) proposed a pay rise of 2.8% for all Members of Parliament. This move would make sure it stays in line with the pay rise proposed for other public sector workers, such as NHS employees and teachers.
Standing currently at £91,346 per year, this proposed pay rise would see MPs pay increase to £93,904 a year.
However, this proposed pay rise is subject to further consultation before IPSA before it potentially gets approved.
IPSA said in a statement: “Our pay proposal for 2025-26 reflects the experience of the wider working public sector population, and recognises both the vital role of MPs and the current economic climate.”
IPSA also added: “Serving as an MP should not be reserved for those who are wealthy enough to fund it themselves.”
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When this 2.8% pay rise was proposed to NHS workers and teachers in December, the response was both that it was too low, and ‘barely above the cost of living’.
Additional concerns were also raised as to how the pay rise would be funded, with discussion of issues surrounding cuts to health and teaching services being used to find this funding.
Many argue that MPs’ pay should be competitive in order to entice the best minds to run for Parliament but others think the current salary is more than enough.
As well as the current £91k salary, MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, a place to live in either London or in their constituency, and travel expenses for travelling between Parliament and their constituency. In addition, if an MP has another job on top of being a member of parliament, such as Chair of a committee or as Speaker, they receive an extra salary on top of their MP income.
Speaking on his radio show, LBC host Tom Swanbrick commented: “I would pay MPs a lot more. I’d pay them at least £150,000 a year, but I would significantly reduce the number of MPs. I would make it a condition of their employment that they can’t have second jobs, and I would reduce their expenses. That, I think, would be fair.”
Commenting on why there has been such a negative reaction to the news of an MP pay rise Dr Parth Patel, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “It’s because people who aren’t top earners in this country have felt a sharp squeeze in their spending power over the last year, the sharpest squeeze in modern history. And so, people feel that air of unfairness.”
With all that in mind, we want to know – do you agree with MPs getting a pay rise? Vote in our poll and let us know how you feel in the comments below.
