Labour councillors giving themselves pay rises

As the country tightens its belts, some councils are taking the courageous decision to increase spending on certain essentials. The Labour councillors who run the London borough of Southwark have identified a deprived group in need of urgent help: themselves.

The council is amending its constitution (Page 48) to create 8 new executive posts to be filled by its own councillors, each of whom will receive an additional £2,800 a year. This comes while they take the axe to lollipop ladies, street cleaning services and libraries. Incidentally, for the extra they’re spending on these unprecedented “deputy cabinet members”, they could save 6 of the 12 crossing patrols they’re cutting.

We reported a few weeks ago that Southwark Council was introducing free school meals for every child, including those of millionaires, at a cost of £4 million a year. This latest move is yet another indication of Labour’s cynicism and profligacy in local government.