Newly elected MEPs set to earn more than £45,000 even if Brexit happens in October

Britain’s 73 new MEPs are set to earn around £45,000 even if Britain leave the EU in October.

MEPs earn some of the highest salaries paid to politicians in the world with £90,576 a year in sterling at current exchange rates.

On top of this MEPs receive a general allowance of £46,680 a year and £257,974 in annual staff allowance, this is on top of a travel allowance of £3,675 and £275 for each day they sign the register in Brussels or Strasbourg.

Assuming Brexit goes ahead and the UK leaves on October 31, British MEPs would take their seats on July 2 and earn £45,752 directly and £85,991 for staff salaries over four months. They would enjoy a paid holiday from July 25 to September 2.

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However, in the increasingly unlikely scenario of MPs approving a version of the withdrawal agreement by the end of June our MEPs will neither take their seats nor draw a salary.

But if Britain extends its departure date another two months beyond October 31, its MEPs will be entitled to an end-of-term allowance worth a month of pay for each year served.

That would mean an extra £3,774.

Meanwhile, 21 new seats have been shared out among EU countries in expectation of the UK leaving.

When the British MEPs take their seats, the 21 European candidates will have to wait for the UK to go before they can take office.