MLAs 'to receive £52,000 salary'

By Mark Devenport
BBC NI Political Editor

MLAs will have to vote on any rise in their salary

An independent review of assembly members' pay is expected to recommend an increase of about 16% to about £52,000 when it reports next month.

The Senior Salaries Review Body will suggest that the rise is necessary to bring Stormont MLAs into line with their GB counterparts.

Assembly members currently earn about £43,000 a year.

MPs earn more than £60,000, members of the Scottish parliament £53,000 and Welsh assembly members £46,500.

It will be up to the 108 assembly members themselves to decide whether to accept the review body's recommendation.

Opposition

However, Sinn Fein's Chief Whip Caral Ni Chuilin has already told the BBC that her party will oppose the move.

She said this was because such a sharp rise would be out of line with both the low rate of inflation and the pay settlements other workers are being asked to accept.