MSPs £2,000 pay rise – we need socialist representatives on a worker’s wage
MSPs are to get a pay rise of more than £2,000 this year. That’s an increase of 3.2% and will take the salary for an MSP to £74,506.
This decision, taken by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – a body made up of 5 MSPs – will anger many facing the reality of still problematic cost of living pressures.
The increase follows on from a 6.7% last year, 1.5% the year before and 3.4% in 2022-23 for Holyrood politicians.
For those that actually run the government and make decisions, including denying workers pay rises that match inflation, the renumeration is even more generous.
A Scottish government minister takes £81,449 a year. While a cabinet secretary is currently on £96,999.
To put it in context, the median wage for a full time employee in Scotland, is £38,315 – barely half of that of an MSP.
These scandals are reasons why Socialist Party Scotland members, when standing for election, always pledge to take the average wage of a skilled worker. Donating the surplus back to trade union and socialist causes.
You can’t be expected to fight for your class if your income puts you so far out of that class.
Not that many MSPs are part of the working class anyway. Studies have shown that they are drawn from predominately middle class professions and backgrounds in terms of MSPs.
For example, while the gender background of MSPs has become more equal, the class background has moved in the opposite direction – of becoming more and more middle class, reflecting the pro-capitalist policies of all the major parties.
Which underlines why you need a class and socialist approach to fighting for genuine working-class representation in parliament.
It’s just another reason why the workers’ movement needs its own representatives in parliament. And why a new mass workers’ party needs to be built, with a commitment to living on a worker’s wage.
