SCOTTISH ministers are set to get a pay rise of thousands of pounds after a 16-year freeze is to be partially lifted.
The MSP element of ministers’ pay will be “equalised” to bring junior ministers’ pay to £100,575 and cabinet secretaries to £116,125. The ministerial part of their pay will remain frozen.
This is an increase from £96,999 for cabinet secretaries, an increase of £19,126, and £81,449 for junior ministers, a rise of £19,076, from April 1.
It is the first time ministers have seen a rise since Alex Salmond brought in the freeze 16 years ago.
Scottish Labour and the Scottish Tories have criticised the move after it was first reported in the Mail on Sunday.
It is understood First Minister John Swinney will not take a pay increase himself.
Swinney, in a response to a Holyrood written question by SNP MSP Rona Mackay, said: “Since 1 April 2009, Scottish ministers have declined to accept their full salary entitlement, freezing it at 2008-09 levels.
“Between the start of the pay freeze on 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2025, this has resulted Scottish ministers making over £2.2 million available for public spending from their own pay packets.
“The freeze of the ministerial element of pay at 2008-09 levels will remain in place for 2025-26, recognising the wider economic and fiscal pressures as well as the restraints placed on public sector pay.”
Craig Hoy (above), Scottish Tories spokesperson for local government and finance, said of the rise: “The huge salary increase John Swinney has given SNP ministers can’t be related to their performance in office, which has been uniformly dismal.
“Nationalist politicians have made a mess of everything they touch – our NHS, education, housing, policing and transport – while stifling the economy, pushing through savage cuts and making Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK.
“That’s why so many Nats expect to be turfed out if they stand in at the next election, and many have already thrown in the towel.
“There’s bound to be speculation that this eye-watering rise is a way of boosting their pensions and pay-offs, and getting as much as they can from the hard-pressed taxpayer on their way to the exit.”
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie, also weighed in, stating: “While Scots are struggling, the SNP Ministers are being rewarded for their failure.
“As the bill for ministerial salary rises, Scots will be more frustrated than ever to see services continue to decline on the SNP’s watch.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministerial and MSP salaries are set and paid by the Scottish Parliament. The MSP element of pay for ministers for 2025-26 will be identical to that of other MSPs.
“The ministerial element of pay has been frozen for 16 years at 2008-09 levels and this will remain in place for 2025-26.”
