Payroll vote

The term payroll vote refers to those MPs who can be relied upon absolutely by the government to vote in support of their policies.

It applies mainly to those members of the government, such as ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries, who are paid increased salaries in recognition of their ministerial responsibilities.

The term also covers those MPs who are obliged to support the government if they want to keep their unpaid posts as ministerial aides, such as parliamentary private secretaries.