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Last time the government of the day tried to change the judges’ pay and conditions was in the 1930s at a time of possibly even greater austerity than there is now. From memory, I think then only the judges and George V didn’t have to take a pay cut.
Apart from the fundamental point in respect of judicial independence, there are two differences between them and the majority of public employees/office holders - they still have a compulsory retirement age, and unless they get a public enquiry or Royal Commission, they can’t go back to work.
I suppose they might become Master of an Oxbridge college or something, as Rowan Williams did when he retired as Archbishop of Canterbury, but if for whatever reason income has to be maintained till say, age 75, they are in a difficult position