MLA pay: ‘Massive’ pay rises unlikely under new plans – Naomi Long

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”