Politician salary rise a ‘mystery’ says Rochdale MP
In total MP's will get a 2.9pc pay increase for the 2023/24 year. This means their salary will rise from £84,144 to £86,584 - an increase of £2440
The MP for Rochdale has said it’s a mystery why an increase to politicians salaries has been proposed.
Members of Parliament will see their salaries rise by nearly £2,500 from April, it has been confirmed.
In total MP's will get a 2.9pc pay increase for the 2023/24 year. This means their salary will rise from £84,144 to £86,584 - an increase of £2440.
Rochdale’s Labour MP Tony Lloyd said it was a ‘mystery’ to him why the increase had been recommended.
He said: “At a time when the government is holding down salaries for public sector workers like nurses and teachers and doing the best to discourage pay increases in the private sector, it's a mystery why anybody would recommend this increase for MPs at this time.
“People will be aware that MP's salaries are determined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority with no reference to MPs.”
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) said the rise was the same as the average increase in pay for public sector employees last year.
Richard Lloyd, Ipsa’s chairman, said: "In confirming MPs pay for next year, we have once again considered very carefully the extremely difficult economic circumstances, the Government’s evolving approach to public sector pay in the light of forecasted rates of inflation, and the principle that MPs’ pay should be reflective of their responsibility in our democracy.
“Our aim is to ensure that pay is fair for MPs, regardless of their financial circumstances, to support the most diverse of parliaments.
“Serving as an MP should not be the preserve of those wealthy enough to fund it themselves.
“It is important for our democracy that people from any background should see representing their communities in Parliament as a possibility.”
