https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg801z292yo

Assembly members (MLAs) are unlikely to receive "massive" pay rises as a result of the introduction of new plans to set pay levels for assembly members, the justice minister has said.

Naomi Long added that the issue of pay was "low down" on her list of priorities and she "does not feel underpaid".

For five years, the Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) set wages and expenses for politicians in the assembly.

But the terms of the three panel members ended in 2016 and they were never replaced.

The Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill proposes setting up a new independent board.

It is backed by the Assembly Commission, which includes representatives of the main parties.

MLAs are already set to receive a small increase in their salaries this April.

An assembly spokesperson said: "Under the terms of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2016, which was determined independently, MLA's will qualify for a £500 pay increase from the 1 April 2025 on the basis of criterion in relation to the rate of inflation.

"As a result, an MLA's annual gross salary will be £53,000 from 1 April 2025."

Regional comparisons

Unlike the IFRP, the new panel will only have the sole remit of setting pay and pension entitlements for MLAs.

Like the IFRP, it will also be asked to take into account the salaries of MPs, TDs and Senators in the Oireachtas, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and the Welsh Parliament (MSs).

MSs currently take home a salary of £72,057, MSPs earn £72,196 while MLAs at Stormont get a salary of £52,500.

Do MLAs deserve a pay rise? BBC News NI asked people in Dundonald
Speaking on BBC News NI's Evening Extra, Naomi Long said there was currently "no discussion" about what exactly salary increases might look like.

"Of course they'll use regional comparators but I don't think anybody should be thinking that suddenly we're going to see massive uplifts in MLA salaries because I don't think any of us would be expecting that to be the case."

She added that there are "many other things" she is trying "to address in the interim that are more important than this".

Long said that it was "not about whether or not I feel underpaid" but about "setting up an independent body to make that adjudication".

"I don't believe MLAs should set their own salaries, I don't think it's appropriate," she added.

"I don't think anyone else has that luxury so I don't think we should have."

She added that every day she meets people "who work in the justice sector who get paid considerably less" than her.

"So I don't feel underpaid for what I do. At the end of the day what I want to ensure is that we attract the best people into politics, people with talent and ability, so we can provide the best possible government.

"Independence for me is key. Let an independent person decide what we're worth and then we just need to accept that judgement."

MLAs should 'not receive a pay rise of one penny'

Timothy Gaston speaking in the Stormont Assembly. He has dark hair, wearing glasses, a blue suit, white shirt and yellow tie.
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said any independent body reviewing MLA pay should link it to their performance
On Tuesday, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said he believed it was "highly likely" the new board would increase MLAs salaries, given the difference with their counterparts in other parts of the UK and Ireland.

"I do not believe that MLAs should receive a pay rise of one penny, never mind £19,000," he said.

"I urge any independent body reviewing MLA pay to link it to our performance in the house; to consider the fact that we are members of a legislative Assembly that seldom legislates; to consider that MLAs sit on scrutiny committees that do not scrutinise," he added.

Trevor Clarke, the DUP representative on the assembly commission, rejected claims that a pay rise for members was inevitable as a result of setting up of the new body.

"There is a danger that we are calling into question the independence of an independent panel," Mr Clarke said.

"Members have not decided anything. Indeed, members agree with many of the points made about why we should not set our salaries. That was agreed many years ago, hence the need for an independent panel to set them."

When did MLAs last get a pay rise?

MLAs last got a pay rise of £500 in their salary last April, in line with rules set by the IFRP before it ceased nine years ago.

Once the new bill is passed, the power to determine allowances payable to MLAs, which relates to travel and office expenses, will sit with the Assembly Commission.

MLAs previously took issue with some of the rules the IFRP imposed, including limits on salaries for constituency office staff and other matters such as office signage.

A spokesperson for the commission said the new panel will have independent membership and "take independent decisions on the appropriate level for the salaries and pensions" of MLAs.

They added that the assembly had previously agreed to change the system in 2020, which set out that salaries and pensions of MLAs should continue to be determined independently.

They said that after that decision, the changes were delayed due to the Covid pandemic and the suspension of power-sharing.

"However, in introducing this new Bill today, the Assembly Commission has taken the first step towards ensuring that the statute book reflects the position previously agreed by the Assembly.

"It will provide for the independent oversight in relation to members' salaries and pensions to continue."

by kharma45

11 comments

  1. Christ they are on less than a g7 in the uk cs.

    There are many useless mlas, but that’s a piss take wages wise.

  3. They deserve pay cuts for the state of this country, not raises. They should be performance related solely in their MLA roles.

  5. Their definition of large pay increase lol they will give themselves a rise oh and the lovely expenses they get ..but not large in their eyes they ate a disgrace

  6. Christ alive they only get 52500? No wonder it doesn’t attract the best and brightest. You’d be mad if you don’t think that’s a shit wage. Obviously they are all a big pile of wankers, but if they were good they should definitely be getting more.

  7. The salaries really aren’t all that high. Any person with good life experience, management skills, knowledge of economics etc would likely have to take a pay cut to be an MLA.

    We’re left with the bitter, the incompetent and the self interested and wonder why they won’t act in our interests.

    At a certain point we do need to understand the importance of politicians and accept their pay should reflect it if we want to attract the right people.

  8. So the thing is all pay in NICS and other public bodies is regionalised, something introduced by the Thatcher Gov in the late 80’s. Why should politicians be any different.

  9. Is anyone forgetting that these clowns bearly show up or the amount of times that the NI elective was suspended and or collapsed, if they actually did a few days of honest work then I would understand a payrise, but for now l don’t believe they are deserving!

  11. Their wage is pretty poor tbh as it is, it’s not going to attract talent at that wage for that level of exposure and responsibility. It also incentivises double jobbing which is not good for serving the public.

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