PMQs: Starmer and Sunak clash on cost of living crisis as ‘UK families to be poorer than Polish by 2030’
MPs will be having a very merry Christmas this year after it emerged they are set for a huge £6,000 pay rise from April next year.
Despite the ongoing cost of living crisis and record high tax burden, MPs will be made nearly £93,000 a year from 2024, a significant rise from their £65,700 pay packets in 2010.
Peers will also see a bump in their daily tax-free allowance, which they pocket from merely turning up, from £342 to £366.
The proposed 7.1 percent hike is higher than the 5-7 percent rises offered by the Government to the rest of the public sector, including teachers, doctors and dentists, civil servants, police, the armed forces, and justice staff.
MP pay is set by the independent body IPSA, which has been responsible since the expenses scandal in 2009.
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The Sun reports that the rate of public sector earnings as of October 2023 is being used by the body to set next year’s salaries.
Despite the process being independent, MPs will face pressure to lobby IPSA for a smaller pay rise during such difficult economic times for the rest of the country.
The campaigning body Taxpayer’s Alliance has warned MPs to “think long and hard”.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the think tank said: “The costly Christmas present will infuriate struggling taxpayers.
“Politicians have delivered a year of sluggish growth and a still-growing tax burden.
“Elected officials should think long and hard as to whether they deserve such a bumper pay rise.”
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In 2022 left-wing MPs pledged to donate that year’s pay rise to charity after condemning their £2,200 boost a year amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Corbynista MP Zarah Sultana said: “I believe MPs getting a £2,200 pay rise is wrong and have pledged to donate mine to good causes”.
She gave half to a food bank in her Coventry constituency and the other to a charity supporting Ukrainian refugees.
While the record pay rise of £6,000 will anger many, some have argued MPs should be paid more to reflect the importance of their job, and reduce the number with second jobs elsewhere.
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