MPs get pay rise for ‘dramatically increased duties last year’ – but didn’t we all WFH?

MPs pay will increase from £81,932 to £84,144

MPs will get a pay rise of more than £2,000 this year, the parliamentary pay watchdog announced Tuesday because their work increased "dramatically" last year. The £2,212 rise comes despite the prime minister earlier suggesting pay should not be increased. MPs will receive the 2.7 per cent bump from next month, increasing their pay from £81,932 to £84,144, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) confirmed. According to Statista, the average Brit earned £31,285 in 2021. MPs' pay has remained unchanged for the past two years due to the pandemic, although Sky News noted that during the pandemic, MPs were able to access more money to run their offices from home. IPSA, who sets MPs' pay independently of parliament and government, said the rise is the same as the average increase in pay for public sector employees last year. Richard Lloyd, IPSA's Chair, said: "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." In January, Boris Johnson urged IPSA to show "restraint" in setting MPs' pay and suggested salaries should remain the same. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed the PM's call. A few days before the first lockdown, IPSA told MPs they would get an extra £10,000 to run their offices and the limit on their payment cards would be increased from £4,000 to £10,000. Related Links

• Boris Johnson says more than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in UK
• Boris Johnson says Putin's 'barbaric' war in Ukraine is 'worse than our predictions'
• 40 mile long Russian convoy advancing on Kyiv following deadly missile strike in Ukraine