Scottish Ministers Get a £19k Salary Boost Amidst Cost-of-Living Crisis: Justified or Reward for Failure?

Scottish ministers are set to receive a salary increase of over £19,000 following the easing of a 16-year voluntary pay freeze, which was initially implemented in 2009 during the UK’s financial crisis. Under this change, junior ministers’ new yearly pay will be £100,575, while cabinet secretaries will earn £116,125. Notably, First Minister John Swinney would have seen his wages increase to nearly £155,000, but he opted to keep his salary at £135,605, citing fairness as his reasoning.

The voluntary pay freeze meant that since 2009, Scottish ministers have not received their full pay entitlement, saving around £2.2 million in public spending. Although the pay freeze on the ministerial portion remains, starting April 1, ministers will receive their complete Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) salary, which is currently £74,507.

Swinney reflected on the potential public perception of the pay rise, especially in light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures, asserting that the ministerial salary will remain unchanged. He highlighted that no similar freeze on ministerial pay has been maintained anywhere else in the UK for such an extensive period.

Opposition parties, however, expressed strong disapproval of the pay rise, labeling it as unearned and a “reward for failure.” Figures from the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour pointed out the government’s poor performance in various public sectors, including NHS, education, and housing, criticizing the SNP for increasing taxes while allowing essential services to deteriorate.

The increase in salaries also comes as several ministers, including cabinet secretaries like Mairi Gougeon, Shona Robison, and Fiona Hyslop, announce plans to step down before next year’s Holyrood election. A spokesperson noted that even with the changes, departing ministers would not be adversely affected in terms of resettlement payments or pensions, as these are calculated based on entitlement rather than actual earnings. Moreover, they will be taxed on their salary entitlement, rather than the reduced amount they previously accepted.