MPs pay reaches over £84,000 for next financial year

Tony Lloyd, MP for Rochdale and Chris Clarkson, MP for Heywood & Middleton

MPs are set to receive a 2.7% wage increase from 1 April – bringing their annual salary to over £84,000.

The basic pay for MPs is set by IPSA, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which has a legal duty to set MPs’ pay, independently of Parliament and government.

IPSA has decided that the annual adjustment to MPs’ basic pay for 2022-23 will be the same as the average increase in pay for public sector employees last year. They will therefore receive an increase of 2.7%, bringing the overall salary from £81,932 to £84,144 from 1 April 2022.

This is in line with the decision by IPSA in 2015 to adjust MPs’ pay at the same rate as changes in public sector earnings published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). It is the first increase in MPs pay for two years, as pay remained unchanged in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA’s chair, said: “This is the first increase in pay for MPs in two years and follows the average of increases across the public sector last year.

“MPs play a vital role in our democracy and this is reflected in their pay. It is right that MPs are paid fairly for the responsibility and the unseen work they do helping their constituents, which dramatically increased last year.

“For Parliament to reflect society, it is vital that people from all walks of life can be an MP.”

Sir Tony Lloyd MP said: ”As people will be aware, MP's salaries are determined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, with no reference to Members of Parliament.

”On that basis I have no idea why they recommending this increase at a time when the government is cutting benefits for those on Universal Credit, holding down salaries for public sector workers like nurses, and doing the best to discourage pay increases in the private sector."

In addition to their basic pay, MPs are also reimbursed for business costs when carrying out their parliamentary duties, including staffing, office costs as well as accommodation and travel outside their constituency. 

MPs cannot claim for personal costs, such as food and drink, during their normal working day. All claims must be compliant with IPSA’s rules and accompanied by evidence. 

In the last financial year (2020/21) Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd claimed back a total £182,219.97, including staff wages of £140,021.36, and Heywood and Middleton MP Chris Clarkson claimed £210,775.67 – including staff wages of £162,966.14.