Fury as politicians set for bigger pay rise than nurses and ambulance workers in ‘record hike’
POLITICIANS are on course for a bigger pay rise than nurses and ambulance workers, it emerged today.
MPs are in line for a massive £6,000 pay hike next year - taking their salaries up to £92,731.
And Peers will see their tax-free daily allowance rise from £342 to £366.
The 7.1 per cent bump next April is far higher than the 5 per cent negotiated for many frontline healthcare workers for this year.
Months of strike action led to public sector workers saw their pay go up between five and seven per cent.
With large public sector pay settlements this year agreed by ministers, those rises are therefore reflected in MPs take-home.
The rate of public sector earnings for October 2023, , is used by the Commons pay authority to set next year's salaries.
But critics warn it would be their highest ever pay rise under the current rules introduced in 2015, were it to be approved in the New Year.
And it is above the 5 per cent pay hike awarded to nurses and ambulance workers in their 2022/23 settlement, however they were accompanied by one off lump sum bonuses.
Inflation is also expected to be plummeting by next April when the new salaries would kick in, meaning a pay rise far higher than price rises.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have the power to suggest a lower pay rise, but they traditionally stick tie it to the October data, which was published this week.
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Last night campaigners told MPs "think long and hard" about accepting such an offer.
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "This 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.”
IPSA said last night: "The IPSA Board will make a decision in the New Year."
