Members of Tynwald took a 6% pay rise last year, according to a Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance review of documentation that appears to not have been publicised widely by Tynwald.

In a previously unreported change to the Tynwald website, a single sentence was changed from:

 “The basic salary, with effect from 1 July 2021, for a Member of the House of Keys is £67,557 per annum and for a Member of the Legislative Council is £63,776 per annum.”

To:

“The basic salary, with effect from 1 April 2022, for a Member of the House of Keys is £71,610 per annum and for a Member of the Legislative Council is £67,603 per annum.”

Members of the House of Keys took a pay rise of at least £4,053 last year. Members of the Legislative Council have took a pay rise of at least £3,827 last year. These pay rises are worth a 6% increase on their previous salary .

In addition to these pay rises, politicians in the Isle of Man receive additional increases for holding certain positions. The Chief Minister receives an additional 30% pay, meaning that the pay of Alf Cannan increased from approximately £87,824 to £93,093, an increase of £5,269 last year. This payrise equates to 6%.

“In last year’s budget, Manx politicians cut the triple-lock of the old age state pension. Then, in November, politicians took a pay rise which was backdated to April. They have put taxpayer’s money where their own mouths are,” said Michael Josem of the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance.

No publicity for politician’s backdated pay rise

Tynwald routinely publicise other stories that it determines to be desirable, including a two week visit to Tynwald by a clerk from the Anguilla House of Assembly, and a student performing work experience at Tynwald.

A review of Tynwald news archives reveals that there was no equivalent publicity given to the pay rise for politicians:

Public Services Commission Statement

The Public Services Commission made an announcement in November 2022 which referred to a pay award for “employees of Public Services Commission”. There was no mention of politicians receiving this pay rise.

The BBC reported on this announcement in November, but made no mention of politicians benefiting from this pay rise. At the time, the BBC simply said, “The Government has been contacted for a response.”