MPs' Pay Rise Announced by Ipsa
Members of Parliament (MPs) will see their basic salary increase by 5% to £98,599 annually starting from April, according to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), Westminster's expenses watchdog.
Ipsa has also indicated its intention to gradually raise MPs' salaries to approximately £110,000 by the end of the current Parliament, which is scheduled for 2029.
Rationale Behind the Pay Adjustment
Richard Lloyd, chairman of Ipsa, explained that the role of an MP has "evolved," with parliamentarians now managing more complex casework and facing increased levels of abuse and intimidation.
"The role of an MP has evolved. They are dealing with higher levels of complex casework, and abuse and intimidation towards MPs and their staff has been growing."
In determining the pay adjustment, Ipsa benchmarked MPs' salaries against those of senior civil service roles, comparable democracies worldwide, and considered the broader economic context.
Details of the 2026-27 Pay Decision
The pay decision for the fiscal year 2026-27 includes a 1.5% benchmarking adjustment alongside a 3.5% increase to account for the cost of living.
In addition to their basic salary, MPs receive expenses to cover the costs associated with running an office, maintaining accommodation in London or their constituency, and travel between Parliament and their constituencies.
Some MPs receive higher pay due to additional responsibilities, such as chairing committees or holding ministerial positions.
Comparisons with International and Public Sector Salaries
UK MPs earn slightly more than their counterparts in France, Japan, and New Zealand but less than MPs in Ireland, Italy, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the United States, where annual salaries exceed £100,000.
Ipsa also compared MPs' salaries to public sector roles, noting that senior managers in the Civil Service have an average annual salary of £88,049, while NHS consultants start at £106,242.
"In reaching our decision for 2026-27 we have benchmarked MPs' pay against other responsible, senior roles in civic society and similar worldwide democracies, as well as considering our own core principles and the wider economic context."
"In future years we will continue to consider prevailing economic and fiscal conditions when confirming annual pay decisions taking into account the experience of people outside of parliament."
Context of Other Public Sector Pay Awards
Earlier in the month, the government announced a 3.3% pay rise for NHS staff in England and Wales, excluding doctors, dentists, and senior managers, effective from April.
For resident doctors in England, a proposed 2.5% pay increase from April is currently under consideration by the independent pay review body.
Within the Civil Service, departments have the capacity to grant average pay awards of up to 3.25% for the 2025/26 period.
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