The lord chancellor has asked for a major review of the judicial salary structure to examine ‘more fundamental issues’ affecting pay. In an open letter to the Senior Salaries Review Body’s chair Lea Paterson, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood also asked for recommendations to the government for the 2025/26 pay award for judicial office holders.

She said though the government was ‘keen to ensure people in the public sector receive another fair pay award’ it ‘cannot afford to cut funding for our vital public services in order to deliver this’.

A major review of the judicial salary structure usually takes place every five years. The last was in 2018, where issues of recruitment particularly at High Court, circuit and district bench level were highlighted.

Mahmood said: ‘A major review provides an opportunity to examine more fundamental issues affecting the judicial pay structures. I am keen to consider longer-term planning for the judiciary ensuring that our justice system delivers a high-quality service that provides value for money for the taxpayer.’

Referring to the annual review, Mahmood said the government ‘values the vital contribution made by the almost [six] million public sector workers across the UK, who deliver the public services we all rely upon… Attracting talent from the legal sector while balancing value for money for taxpayers is central to ensure that we are equipped to deliver mission-led, high quality public services’.

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She said this pay round and evidence the SSRB will receive ‘comes against the backdrop of the challenging financial position this government has inherited’.

Mahmood did not set a date for the SSRB’s report but asked if recommendations ‘at the earliest point that allows you to give due consideration to the relevant evidence’. She added: ‘I recognise that changing the timeline from recent years will present challenges for the SSRB, especially as work commences on a major review. However, I am sure you also share the government’s belief in the importance of returning to more timely annual pay processes. It is also the case that the Major Review is the opportunity to consider wider strategic issues, and you should therefore consider that this annual review can be more narrowly focused.’

In September 2024, the Ministry of Justice confirmed a 6% rise in judicial salaries after the government accepted the SSRB’s recommendation of a 6% pay award for all judicial office holders. The increase was backdated to April 2024.