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MPs are in line for an inflation-busting 2.8 per cent pay rise this year, the body in charge of parliamentary salaries has announced.
The move would take their wages to £93,904 a year, up from £91,346.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), which was set up in the wake of the expenses scandal, said its proposals in part reflect the “vital role” of MPs.
But critics said it would be a “bitter pill” to swallow for taxpayers and claimed MPs were being rewarded for failure.
Ipsa chairman Richard Lloyd said: “IPSA has been responsible for deciding MPs’ pay since 2011. Since then, our aim has been to make fair decisions on pay, both for MPs and the public.
“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.”
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This will be a bitter pill to swallow given politicians of both front benches have for years hammered the living standards of taxpayers.
“MPs are guilty of delivering a record high tax burden, persistent inflation and struggling services, yet are now being rewarded for this catalogue of failures.
“Pay for politicians should be strictly linked to the country’s economic performance, ideally to actual living standards measured by GDP per capita.”
Last March No 10 said then prime minister Rishi Sunak would accept an inflation-busting 5.5 per cent increase in his MP’s pay.
That year IPSA had recommended MPs’ basic salaries be increased to £91,346 from April, up from £86,584.
The rise was higher than the rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation, which Office for National Statistics figures suggest stood at 4 per cent in January.
At that stage Ipsa said the decision had been taken in line with the award recently agreed for the senior civil service.
Ministers are paid a separate salary on top of being an MP.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow…
Source: independent.co.uk
