Plain-English guide
How much do MPs get paid?
A UK Member of Parliament earns a basic annual salary of £98,599 (from 1 April 2026). Some MPs earn more for holding particular offices, and expenses are a separate matter entirely. Here is how it works.
£98,599
Basic salary (from Apr 2026)
£93,904
Previous year (2025-26)
+5%
Latest annual change
The basic salary
Every MP receives the same basic salary, regardless of party or constituency. From 1 April 2026 that is £98,599, up 5% from £93,904 the previous year. The figure is set each year by IPSA, the independent body that has decided MPs' pay since 2011, MPs no longer vote on their own salaries.
Extra pay for office-holders
Some MPs earn an additional salary on top of the basic pay for holding a particular role, government ministers, the Prime Minister, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, the Leader of the Opposition, and select committee chairs. The extra amount varies by role. An MP who holds no such office receives only the basic salary. The additional salary for a select committee chair, which IPSA administers, is £19,763 from April 2026.
Salary is not expenses
It is easy to confuse the two, but they are separate. Salary is the MP's personal pay. Expenses are reimbursements for the costs of doing the job, office rent, staff wages, accommodation, and travel, which do not go into the MP's pocket. You can look up what your own MP claimed in expenses.
How the basic salary has changed
IPSA has set the basic salary each year since 2011. The figures below are the basic annual salary on the date each change took effect, before any additional pay for office-holders.
| Effective from | Basic annual salary |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | £98,599 |
| April 2025 | £93,904 |
| April 2024 | £91,346 |
| April 2023 | £86,584 |
| April 2022 | £84,144 |
| April 2021 | £81,932 |
| April 2020 | £81,932 |
| April 2019 | £79,468 |
| April 2018 | £77,379 |
| April 2017 | £76,011 |
| May 2016 | £74,962 |
| April 2015 | £74,000 |
Common questions
How much is an MP paid in 2026?
The basic annual salary for a UK MP is £98,599 from 1 April 2026, a 5% rise from £93,904 in the 2025-26 year. The salary is set independently by IPSA (the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority), not by MPs themselves.
Do some MPs get paid more?
Yes. MPs who hold certain offices receive an additional salary on top of the basic pay, including government ministers, the Prime Minister, the Speaker and their deputies, the Leader of the Opposition, and select committee chairs. The extra amount depends on the role.
Are expenses part of an MP's salary?
No. Expenses are reimbursements for the business costs of doing the job, running an office, employing staff, accommodation, and travel, and are not personal income. Salary and expenses are separate, and both are published by IPSA.
Who decides MPs' pay?
Since 2011, MPs' pay has been set independently by IPSA, which was created after the 2009 expenses scandal. MPs no longer vote on their own salary.
Do MPs get a pension?
Yes. MPs can join a contributory pension scheme, with contributions from both the MP and the public purse, administered under IPSA's rules.
When did MPs last get a pay rise?
The basic salary rose to £98,599 in April 2026, a 5% increase on the £93,904 paid in 2025-26. IPSA reviews the salary each year; it was held at £81,932 across both 2020 and 2021, and has otherwise risen annually.
How much extra does a select committee chair get paid?
A select committee chair receives an additional £19,763 from April 2026 on top of the basic MP salary. This additional salary is administered by IPSA.