MEMBERS of Parliament, including those working from home, will receive a pay rise of £3360 on top of their £81,932 salary next year.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) proposed MPs should continue to earn a salary linked to the average rise for public sector workers. It is now expected to base next year’s pay increase on this October’s public sector three-month annual growth figure of 4.1%.
IPSA had faced calls to freeze politician’s income as the rest of the UK struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic.
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In April New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed she and her ministers would take a pay cut in solidarity with those in the country hit by Covid-19.
She said it was crucial for the government’s highest-paid politicians to show “leadership and solidarity” with those who had lost their livelihoods.
The pay cut was put in place for six months and saw Ardern’s salary reduced by 47,104 dollars.
A similar strategy has not been brought about in Westminster, where MPs will see their £81,932 pay boosted by £3360.
IPSA's interim chairman Richard Lloyd said: "IPSA is responsible for setting MPs' pay and pensions.
"We act independently of parliament and have a statutory duty to review MPs' pay in the first year of each parliament.
"We carried out a major review of MPs' pay with consultations in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and technical adjustments in 2018.
"Given the huge economic uncertainties arising from the coronavirus pandemic, we do not think it is right to depart from this approach now."
IPSA launched an online consultation on the proposals and expect to make a final decision in December.
After hearing the news SNP MP Drew Hendry told IPSA: "Please don't do this."
"It's not only tone deaf, it's actively insulting to those struggling just now," he said. "Public trust must come first."
Meanwhile Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan added: "This isn't right. Millions face job uncertainty and to give us MPs a pay rise now just sends the wrong message and highlights the economic divide in our country."
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