The UK Government has announced that it will lift the salaries of the country’s 106 High Court judges by 12-15 per cent in a bid to tackle a drop-off in applications to the bench. The decision comes in the wake of the recent High Court ruling on the use of prerogative powers to trigger Article 50 and Britain’s exit from the European – a decision which saw several High Court judges subjected to intense public backlash in the national press. The planned pay rise will add between £21,572 and £26,965 to the annual pay packets of High Court judges, which already stand £179,768.
Public sector backlash
The average salary of High Court judges has remained relatively static in recent years while similarly-qualified professionals on other career tracks, including top silks and arbitrators, have enjoyed steady growth. However, the decision to bulk up pay has angered others in the UK public sector, where the average salary is expected to grow just 1 per cent this year. Unison head of health Christina McAnea told The Times: ‘NHS staff will be hoping this signals and end to the government’s squeeze on pay. Health and other public service employees’ wages have been frozen or capped for years, causing real financial hardship.’
Sources: Legal Business; The Times
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