Senedd politicians could get 6% pay rise

Members of the Senedd (MSs) could receive a pay rise of 6% under proposals published on Wednesday.

The plans would bring the salary of a backbench MS to £76,380 in 2025-26, up from £72,057.

The salary of Senedd politicians is set by the remuneration board, which is independent of the Welsh Parliament.

The proposed pay rise will now be subject to consultation. The board says the rise would be in line with average earnings in Wales.

Annual pay rises for MSs have been capped at 3% since the start of the current Senedd term in 2021.

In contrast, MPs in Westminster saw their salaries rise by 5.5% last April, whilst Members of the Scottish Parliament received an uplift of 6.7% for 2024-25.

Under the remuneration board's proposals, senior politicians in Cardiff Bay - including committee chairs, group leaders and government ministers - would also see an uplift to their additional allowances.

For example, the first minister would see her additional salary rise to £90,701 bringing her total pay to £167,081.

Group leaders would see their full salary increase up to a maximum of £119,343, depending on how many MSs their party has in Cardiff Bay.

The Senedd's presiding officer – known as the Llywydd – would see her salary rise to a total of £125,310, and senior committee chairs would receive a full salary of £91,894.

Last September the Welsh government announced a pay rise of between 5-6% for more than 100,000 public sector workers in Wales.

According to the latest figures, the UK inflation rate stood at 2.6% in November.

Dr Elizabeth Haywood, chair of the Independent Remuneration Board of the Senedd, said the latest average earning figures for 2023/24 in November "confirmed a three-year period of unexpected and consistent growth in average salaries".

"Retaining the 3% cap on members' pay, which has been in place since 2021, would contradict this principle and the board therefore proposes an increase of 6% in line with the latest... figures for Wales.

She said: "The board's review focused on its core objectives and principles to ensure members are remunerated fairly and provided with sufficient resources to support them in their duties, whilst ensuring that decisions are appropriate within the wider financial circumstances of Wales and represent value for money."

The consultation by the remuneration board is also proposing "winding-up payments" for MSs who leave after the next election, similar to the UK Parliament.

The consultation closes on 19 February