IPSA Announces Outcome of MPs' Pay Consultation

Date published: 5 July 2018

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) today announced the outcome of a consultation to review MPs' pay. The salaries of Members of Parliament will continue to be linked to changes in average public sector pay.

IPSA has a statutory duty to review MPs’ remuneration in the first year of each Parliament. The consultation ran from 10 May to 15 June 2018.

After considering the consultation responses, IPSA has decided not to change the determinations on MPs' basic salary and additional salary for Committee Chairs. The July 2015 and May 2016 pay determinations will continue for this Parliament.

IPSA also decided that an amount equal to two months’ net (take home) salary should be paid in addition to the Loss of Office payments for former MPs who have lost their seats. MPs who stand down at a snap General Election, but not at a planned General Election, will also be entitled to the equivalent of two months’ net salary.

Ruth Evans, IPSA’s Chair, said:

“We believe that the approach taken by IPSA to MPs' pay since 2015 has largely been accepted by both MPs and the public. It has contributed to greater confidence that MPs' pay and pensions are independently regulated and fair. Following our review of MPs' pay, we think it is right to continue to link the pay of Members of Parliament with average pay across the public sector. We also think it is right to take account of the work involved in closing down an office after a General Election, with a small additional payment for MPs.

“We thank all those who contributed to this consultation on MPs' remuneration, and will give further consideration to the issues around MPs' pensions, before reaching decisions later this year.”

Notes to editors

  1. The consultation ran from 10 May to 15 June 2018. Read the consultation document.

  2. A full consultation response document will be published later in the year, and will include decisions about MPs’ pensions.

  3. Summary of responses

  • We received nine written responses and 38 responses to the online survey.

  • Question 1 of the consultation asked: "Do you agree that the current arrangements for MPs’ salary are appropriate?"

  • Only two of the written responses addressed the question of MPs’ salary (with the others instead focusing on MPs’ pensions and LOOP).

  • Nearly all survey responses addressed this question. 51% answered "yes"; 37% answered "no"; and 11% answered "not sure". Of those who said "yes", 61% were members of staff, 17% were MPs and 22% were members of the public. Of those who said "no", 46% were members of the public, 38% were staff members and 15% were MPs.

  • Question 3 of the consultation asked: "Do you agree that the current arrangements for the additional salary paid to Chairs of Select Committees and Members of the Panel of Chairs are appropriate?"

  • Again, most survey respondents answered this question. 61% answered "yes"; 27% answered "no"; and 12% answered "not sure". Of those who said "yes", 25% were MPs, 50% were staff members and 25% were members of the public. Of those who said "no", 78% were members of the public and 22% were staff members.

  • Question 5 of the consultation asked: "Do you think that an amount equal to two months’ net (take home) salary should be paid in addition to the Loss of Office payments for former MPs who have lost their seats?"

  • Of those who answered this question, 56% responded by saying "yes"; 38% said "no"; and 6% answered "not sure".

  • Question 6 of the consultation asked: "Do you think that former MPs who stand down at a snap General Election, but not at a planned General Election, should also be entitled to the equivalent of two months’ net salary?"

  • Of those who answered this question, 50% responded by saying "yes"; 47% said "no"; and 3% answered "not sure".

 For more information, please contact IPSA's Press Office.