MSPs in charge of Holyrood committees to get an extra £15,500 pay

MSPs who head up Holyrood’s 16 committees are to get an extra £15,500 on their pay packets from next year. From April 2027, committee conveners will get an extra 20 per cent on top of their MSP salary, taking their annual pay from £77,711 to £92,253. This comes after Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson, who previously convened Holyrood’s finance and public administration committee, pledged to look at giving conveners a higher salary. He said the extra £15,542 would make sure their pay reflects the “significant additional demands” of the role.

Mr Gibson wrote to committee conveners on Thursday and said: “Our committees really are at the heart of what we, as a parliament, do. “Not only ensuring that the parliament holds the government to account, but that we are hearing from people across Scotland about the issues that matter to them. Subscribe to The Steamie morning politics newsletter “It was clear to me at the conveners’ group on 4 November how committed each and every one of you is to your leadership role as convener.

I am acutely aware from my own experience however, of the additional demands that come with these positions.” MSPs sitting on the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body voted unanimously to back Mr Gibson’s calls for higher committee convener salaries. He added: “Subject to parliament approving the necessary amendment to the salaries scheme, conveners will, from 1 April 2027, receive an additional payment equivalent to 20 per cent of MSP salary.

“Conveners and their committees will have a vital role to play in this work reconnecting the parliament and the people.” There are 16 different committees in Holyrood, bringing the cost to the taxpayer to £342,000 a year once pensions and National Insurance contributions are taken into account. This will affect the following MSPs: Stuart McMillan (SNP); David Linden (SNP); Calum Kerr (SNP); Duncan Massey (Reform UK); Karen Adam (SNP); Katie Hagmann (SNP); Patrick Harvie (Green); Clare Haughey (SNP); Helen McDade (SNP); Neil Bibby (Labour); Paul Sweeney (Labour); Bob Doris (SNP); Mark Ruskell (Green); Craig Hoy (Conservative); Jenni Minto (SNP); and Willie Rennie (Lib Dem).