MPs wages to increase to nearly £82,000 from April

Tony Lloyd MP

MPs are set to receive a 3.1% wage increase from 1 April – bringing their wages to just under £82,000.

The annual adjustment to MPs’ basic pay for 2020-21 will be an increase of 3.1%, bringing the overall salary from £79,468 to £81,932.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is responsible for the allowances and salaries of MPs, says the increase is in line with changes in public sector earnings.

MPs’ wages have already increased by £13,730 since April 2010.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA interim Chair, 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. In many MPs’ offices, relatively little time or money was spent 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.

“This action demonstrates IPSA’s ongoing commitment to supporting MPs and their staff to serve their constituents, and we will review this over the next year, in line with our assurance work.” 

Chris Clarkson, Conservative MP for Heywood & Middleton, said: “As you may be aware since the 2010 General Election, the Independent Standards Authority has been responsible for MPs’ pay and expenses. 

“My colleagues and I have no say in this matter.”

Labour MP for Rochdale, Tony Lloyd, said: “One of the things I fought long and hard for is that MPs should have no control or ability to interfere in their own pay. It should have always been scrutinised and determined by an independent body. I was therefore pleased when, in 2010, IPSA was given responsibility for setting the level of MPs' salaries.

“However, I am well aware that many people will be shocked that MPs are receiving an increase at a time when many other people across the country are seeing little or zero increases in their own pay or income.

“Unfortunately, the budget released by Mr Johnson’s government yesterday fell short of repaying the many hard-working families across Rochdale, and the UK, who have sacrificed so much in the last 10 years.

“In my role as a Labour MP, I will always support and fight for our dedicated front-line public servants and private sector workers, to be paid justly for the work they do.”