NIcola Sturgeon to return part of pay after becoming highest paid politician in UK

MSPs have agreed to a pay rise for Nicola Sturgeon making her the highest paid politician in the UK.

But aware if the potential public backlash the first minister has agreed to return part of her wage packet, maintaining Alex Salmond’s pledge to a pay freeze at his 2008-09 level when he was in office.

MSPs awarded themselves a 0.7% pay increase, taking Ms Sturgeon’s salary to £144,687, outstripping the prime minister’s £142,500, London mayor Boris Johnson who took home £143,911 and the first minister of Wales at £135,260.

But the first minister’s official spokesman revealed that she would only accept £133,605 adding that taxpayers would think it “absolutely perverse” for her to earn more than David Cameron.

The difference in what she was to receive and her actual take home pay will be returned to the public purse.

It is understood that members of the Scottish cabinet will also keep the voluntary pay freeze, and will hand back some of the £103,495 they are entitled to from next month.

The pay increase will give MSPs an extra £411, taking their pay to £59,089.