Pay rise for MSs while some staff face cuts

THE pay of politicians in Cardiff Bay is set to rise while some of the Senedd’s lowest-paid support staff face cuts, the Welsh Parliament's pay body has confirmed.

- CHRIS HAINES ICNN Senedd reporter

The Senedd, Cardiff Bay

(SENEDD CYMRU)

Senedd members, who receive a basic salary of £76,380 after a £4,300 rise in 2025, are set to receive another increase in 2026 linked to a Welsh average earnings index.

But the Senedd’s remuneration board, which decides politicians’ pay, also confirmed the top end of the lowest pay grade for support staff will be cut by almost £1,300 to £32,414.

The Unite and PCS unions, as well as the Plaid Cymru group, opposed the cut to the maximum salary for the lowest pay band. Some affected staff will be offered two years’ pay protection, which Unite warned is not enough.

The board justified the change based on benchmarking and ensuring alignment with market rates of similar complexity and responsibility.

But the board’s own impact assessment recognised the cut may have an adverse impact on women and disabled people.

Most members of staff will be positively impacted by the reforms, the board said, with the highest pay points for bands one and two, senior advisers and chiefs of staff increasing.

The board’s yearlong review, which cost more than £115,000 in consultancy fees alone, concludes as the Senedd is set to expand from 60 to 96 politicians at May's election.