Senedd politicians to get inflation-busting pay rise

SENEDD members are set for an inflation-busting 4.5% pay rise next year, despite the rate of price growth falling in the latest figures.

- RUTH MOSALSKI Political editor

The Senedd's independent remuneration board has confirmed the base salary for politicians will be £79,817 after the 2026 election.

The rise is based on figures generated from the Office of National Statistics' annual study of wages rather than the CPI rate of inflation, which fell more than expected last month to 3.2%.

The remuneration board has recommended that other costs and expense allowances for Senedd Members and their staff should rise by the CPI rate of inflation as recorded in January 2026.

The increase means the amount Senedd members will be paid from 2026 will be at least £12,000 more than the figure when the term started in 2021. Members' pay was frozen in 2020-21 and rises have since been linked to an index of average earnings.

There are major changes coming into force at the election taking place in May. It will mean 96 rather than 60 Senedd members, who are elected via a new system and on new boundaries. For 2025-26 the salary of an MP is £93,904.