MPs' salary rises to be restricted to the same as public sector workers by law

Public Sector workers have been restricted to a 1% annual pay rise for the last five years, a lot of them have had a pay freeze during this time, whilst MPs are exempt from the restrictions they place on Public Sector workers. MPs should be subject to the same annual pay rises by law.

The rate of MPs’ pay is set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) which was established in July 2009 by the Parliamentary Standards Act. IPSA ensures the system of business costs and expenses, as well as MPs’ pay and pensions, is governed by independent external regulation. Their latest scheme can be viewed at www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk. IPSA has a legal requirement to review the Scheme regularly.

In handing the determination and administration of MPs’ remuneration to an independent body, any role for the House of Commons in setting the level of Member’s pay, pensions and expenses has ended. The Government has no direct ministerial responsibility for IPSA.

Leader of the House