In a move set to increase MPs’ annual earnings to £91,346, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s decision has sparked public outrage, contrasting sharply with the nation’s broader economic challenges.
Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom are set to receive a 5.5% salary increase, which will raise their annual earnings to £91,346 from April. This adjustment, recommended by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), has ignited public dissatisfaction amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. The decision sees MP salaries increase by 39% since 2010, a rate significantly higher than the average 8% wage growth experienced by most British citizens over the same period.
The IPSA, established in 2009 in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal, aims to ensure the role of an MP is financially accessible to a wide range of individuals, thereby promoting diversity within Parliament. IPSA’s Chair, Richard Lloyd, highlighted the importance of this objective in light of the recent salary adjustments. Despite the IPSA’s intentions, the pay rise has led to widespread criticism across social media, with many calling the increase “disgusting” given the broader economic difficulties facing the nation.
This move also follows revelations that MPs have earned over £17 million in outside earnings since 2019, further fueling the debate over the appropriateness of the salary increase. The reaction also included suggestions from one minister to delay a General Election to allow younger MPs to benefit from the higher salaries.
