The announcement comes despite a surprise fall in inflation in the most recent figures
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.
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 last Senedd 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. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The First Minister’s salary will be £173,600 in 2026. The Prime Minister receives the base MP salary plus additional amounts. Keir Starmer has most recently taken a salary of £164,951.
The figures for Wales show from 2026, cabinet ministers will earn £124,713, an increase of £19,000 on 2021, while deputy ministers’ pay will rise by more than £16,000 to £106,008.
Pay for the speaker or Llywydd, the effective speaker of the Welsh Parliament, will be £130,949. Meanwhile, the deputy speaker’s wages will be £106,008 and Senedd commissioners will earn £96,029.
Committee chairs will also earn £96,029. Opposition group leaders are set to receive at least £96,029 too. This figure rises by £1,248 for every extra party member, up to a maximum salary of £124,713.
Senedd politicians’ current pay of £76,380 outstrips that of counterparts in Scotland (£74,507) and Northern Ireland (£53,000). Scotland, Northern Ireland and Westminster are yet to publish comparable details of pay for 2026/27.
With the Senedd expanding from 60 to 96 members in May, the remuneration board confirmed projected costs of the additional politicians will exceed £40m over three years.
The total cost of the 36 extra members – including salaries, support staff and office costs – is forecast at £12.7m in 2026/27, rising to £14.3m by 2028/29.
It means the total annual wage bill for all 96 members will reach £38.3m by 2028/29 compared with the current financial year’s £20.8m bill for 60 politicians.
Nearly two-thirds of the overall increase in pay between 2021 and 2026 has come in a little over a year after the remuneration board scrapped a 3% cap on rises for politicians.
Senedd members received a 6% increase in April 2025 and will receive a further 4.5% in May 2026. This combined rise outstrips projected inflation of about 6% for the period.
The board argues the increases reflect the growing responsibilities of Senedd members, who now hold significant tax and law-making powers compared with previous terms. It has also stressed that fair remuneration is vital to attract a diverse range of candidates.
On December 15, the board opened a consultation on parts of the determination. However, key decisions on salaries will not be revisited and politicians do not get a vote on their pay.
Elizabeth Haywood, who chairs the remuneration board, said a simplified draft determination for next term reflects a commitment to clarity, fairness and transparency.
“We have gathered extensive evidence and taken on board a range of views and already conducted two public consultations during this process,” said Dr Haywood.
“Our aim is to ensure that members and their staff are equipped to meet the challenges of the seventh Senedd – with more members, new constituency arrangements and evolving ways of working.
“As the Senedd changes, our priority remains to provide appropriate support whilst providing value for money.”