MPs’ new above-inflation pay rise of 2.7 per cent was blasted as an “outrage” today by a public-sector union whose members’ wage increases are capped at 1 per cent.

The basic salary of MPs will rise from £77,379 to £79,468 from April 1. The increase of £2,089 is above the current inflation rate of 1.8 per cent based on the Consumer Price Index measure.

It is also well above the 1.8 per cent increase that MPs got last year.

Chairs of Commons committees will get an increase of 2.7 per cent to the additional salary they receive on top of their basic pay, taking their additional pay from £15,509 to £15,928.

This would result in a salary of £95,396. Ministers’ salaries are determined separately.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, said: “It is an outrage that MPs are rewarding themselves with an above-inflation pay rise while civil servants, who do some of the most vital jobs in society, are still subject to a cruel 1 per cent de facto pay cap.

“PCS are balloting 120,000 members for strike action over pay this summer and today’s news will only anger them further.”

MPs’ pay is linked to average rises in the public sector, as determined by the Office for National Statistics.

Following reforms to the way MPs’ pay is calculated, the rise is automatic and not subject to a vote in the Commons.

MPs received a pay rise of 1.4 per cent in 2017, 1.3 per cent in 2016 and a big increase from £67,000 to £74,000 in 2015.