Peers to get equivalent of £81,000 salary for just 150 days’ work as tax-free allowance is hiked to £371 (and the House usually only sits for six hours_Nhy
Peers are set to rake in more than £55,000 a year tax-free after the latest hike to their allowances.
The standard per diem for members of the House of Lords is due to rise from £361 to £371 next week, in line with the 2.8 per cent increase in MPs’ salaries.
With the House sitting for roughly 150 days a year, that would give a potential income of £55,600. A normal taxpayer would require a salary of around £81,000 to take that sum home.
Sessional returns show that the average length of the sitting day in 2023-24 was six hours and 17 minutes – although peers could have been working outside the chamber.
Most Lords are not paid salaries, but they can claim for every day they attend.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) confirmed the rise for MPs – which is in line with other public sector workers – yesterday.
Peers in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament last year
But it stressed the increase was only an interim measure, with a full reassessment of the new £93,904 salary will be carried out by July. Any change would not be made until next Spring.
The metric previously favoured by Ipsa had suggested a bigger hike of 4.2 per cent this year, on top of the 5.5 per cent last year.
Downing Street has shrugged off questions about whether MPs should get the rise, taking salaries to £93,000, as the Chancellor prepares sweeping cuts to spending.
But some politicians have been vowing to give the extra money to charity, saying it is ‘wrong’ when disability benefits are being cut.
Zara Sultana, who is currently suspended from Labour, said: ‘The independent regulator has announced a £2,500 pay rise for MPs.
‘At a time when disabled people are facing the biggest cuts to disability benefits on record, this is simply wrong.
‘I’ll be donating mine to charities supporting disabled people in Coventry & across the country.’
A House of Lords spokeswoman said: ‘This 2.8 per cent increase in House of Lords daily allowances is linked to Ipsa pay awards for MPs, which are themselves linked to wider public sector pay awards.
‘This ensures the independence of any decisions about increases to House of Lords allowance.
‘Members of the House of Lords are not paid a salary. The Daily Attendance allowance ensures Members from every part of the UK are not prevented from attending the House due to the cost of doing so.’
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘The increase in the Lord’s allowance is just as unfair as the MP’s salary increase.
‘While Lords provide expertise and insight into key policy priorities, it shouldn’t be done at an increased cost to taxpayers.’
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) confirmed the increase for MPs – which is in line with other public sector workers – yesterday
