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The 90 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) at Stormont are proposed to receive a substantial increase in their annual salary, rising by over £14,000 from April, reaching £67,200. Currently, MLAs earn £53,000 annually, which is notably less than their counterparts in Scotland and Wales. This upward adjustment is recommended by the independent remuneration board, the body tasked with reviewing and setting the pay and pension arrangements for MLAs.
This proposal comes amid ongoing scrutiny, with the remuneration board opening a consultation period to gather public feedback before finalizing the salary determination. The board was established only last year following new legislation, replacing the Independent Financial Review Panel, which had not been active since 2016. One of the board’s key considerations includes the salaries of politicians in other devolved administrations—Scottish Parliament members earn £74,507 and Welsh Parliament members receive £76,380 annually—alongside the salaries of MPs at Westminster (£93,904) and members of Ireland’s Dáil (€113,679, or approximately £94,537).
Alan Lowry, chair of the remuneration board, acknowledged the context of public dissatisfaction due to periods when Northern Ireland’s political institutions were not fully operational. He stated, “We recognise these proposals come at a time when public confidence has been impacted by periods in recent years when our political institutions were not sitting and working normally.” Lowry emphasized that salary increases are contingent on MLAs performing their full responsibilities, underscoring the importance of their legislative, accountability, and constituency duties.
In response to concerns about political inactivity, the board has also introduced measures that would reduce MLA salaries by 10% if a new executive is not formed within six weeks after an election, with further reductions applied at 12 and 18 weeks. This sanction also applies if the offices of first minister and deputy first minister become vacant at any time. The board intends to make three determinations in 2026, including adjustments for the 2027-2032 mandate and decisions regarding MLA pensions, both to be finalized later this year
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