Is it true that, in the 1970s, the MP, the teacher and the police sergeant earned about the same?

Thank you, DaisyAnne. I hope you are feeling better.

I found this to add to the data on MP pay:

The [Top Salaries Review Board] TSRB report published in June 1979 (shortly after the general election) recommended a basic salary of £12000.

The Government agreed to this but announced that it would have to be staged and Members would receive £9,450 witheffect from 13 June 1979, £10,725 in June 1980 and £12,000 with effect from 13 June 1981. For pension purposes the full rate of £12,000 was operative from 13 June 1979.

The link to Grade 6 pay for civil servants ran from 1988 to 1996.

All in this report which goes to 2009.

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05075/SN05075.pdf

Septimia

When I started teaching in 1973 my annual salary, before tax, was £1384. I only did supply teaching after 1980, when our son was born, so I've rather lost track of what I was earning then.

I started teaching in 1982. My annual gross salary was just over £6000. I didn't start at the bottom of the scale because I had already accrued experience points. I know what my salary was because my 100% mortgage (£17,999) was three times my annual salary (minus a pound!).

When Dh started teaching in 1979 we qualified for rent and rates rebate from the Council so newly qualified teachers teachers didn’t earn much. He was a mature student!

Hope you feel better soon DaisyAnne.

In the 1980s backbench MP salaries were linked to a specific point on the salary scale for grade 6 civil servants. However this was discontinued

I remembered that it was linked to Civil Service G6 and was going to post it, Cold - so thank you for posting that it had been discontinued, I didn't realise.

Add in all the expenses, subsidised food and drink etc and their salaries are just the start of a lucrative package.

Too many fat cats in the Commons, methinks. If we can't afford decent wages for teachers and nurses how come we can afford them for MPs?

When I started teaching in 1973 my annual salary, before tax, was £1384. I only did supply teaching after 1980, when our son was born, so I've rather lost track of what I was earning then.

Get well soon DaisyAnne.

This topic is rather fascinating. MPs pay has completely outstripped the pay of teachers. I think doctors earn more than MPs but it probably depends on days worked as many female doctors work part time. I don’t know about the pay of the police. The way pay has been held down for teachers tells us everything we need to know about how teachers are regarded.

MPs have done very well. There are absolutely no qualifications to be an MP, although many do hold qualifications. They are entitled to buy a second home in London and we the general public pay the mortgages on these homes. Whenever the MP leaves the role he/she is entitled to continue to own the home in London and to sell it. Imagine the profits from selling a house in London, particularly if the MP has worked as an MP for many years. In addition they can claim extremely generous ‘expenses.’ What a life! No wonder I have little regard for these people.

Cold

In the 1980s backbench MP salaries were linked to a specific point on the salary scale for grade 6 civil servants. However this was discontinued.

Currently the approx salaries are
Grade 6 Civil Servant (in London) - £65,000 - 72,688
MP basic salary - £84,144

So MPs have increased their pay in recent years in relation to other groups and significantly MP pay increased by 30% in the past 12 years at a time when most of the public sector was under austerity and restricted to small or no pay rises
2010 - MP salary - £65, 738
2022 - MP salary - £84, 144

Very interesting Cold. I do seem to vaguely remember the debates about the nature of an MP's job.

Any bets on when the "teacher and the sergeant" will catch up?

Iam64

Get well soon daisyanne

I think I am Iam64, I just get very tired still. Thank you for your wishes.

I have a vague recollection that when I was leaving school (early 60s) doctors, accountants solicitors and teachers all earned about the same.

I don't know about the pay scales but these were the kinds of occupations of the men in my grandmother's side of the family. None of the women on that side worked. I was introduced at 10 to an uncle who was a solicitor (although he had his own practice) and I thought he must be rich because he had a car. I didn't know any other family with a private car in the area where we grew up. On my father's side they all worked in factories or on the docks and rode bikes or the bus.

When I was at later school (1950s) my form teacher wanted me to go into teaching but my parents would not hear of my staying on the do A levels. So yes, teacher, solicitor, doctor etc were regarded as equivalent professions then.

In the 1980s backbench MP salaries were linked to a specific point on the salary scale for grade 6 civil servants. However this was discontinued.

Currently the approx salaries are
Grade 6 Civil Servant (in London) - £65,000 - 72,688
MP basic salary - £84,144

So MPs have increased their pay in recent years in relation to other groups and significantly MP pay increased by 30% in the past 12 years at a time when most of the public sector was under austerity and restricted to small or no pay rises
2010 - MP salary - £65, 738
2022 - MP salary - £84, 144

Get well soon daisyanne

I have a vague recollection that when I was leaving school (early 60s) doctors, accountants solicitors and teachers all earned about the same. I can't prove that and don't have the time to check my recollection.

I hope that you feel better soon DaisyAnne

Thank you NorthFace. I am fighting Covid at the moment and seem to be less able to concentrate so that was a real kindness as well as adding to the thread.

This is what I found on a quick search:

13 June 1979 MP £12000

api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1979/jun/21/mps-and-ministers-salaries-1

The Review Body draws attention to the fact that the parliamentary salary has not been brought properly up to date for seven years. They recommend a revised figure of £12,000 with effect from the due date of 13th June 1979.

… by 1979, when Margaret Thatcher came to power [4 May 1979], an MP was earning £9,450.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/01/mps-pay-real-terms-increase

23 July 1979 Police Sergeant £5450 - £6250 depending on length of service

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1979/694/pdfs/uksi_19790694_en.pdf

28 March 1980 Teacher £3519 - £8301 depending on Scale point and seniority

www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1980/78/pdfs/nisr_19800078_en.pdf