Lib Dems Launch Campaign to Stop 25% Pay Increase (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Launch Campaign to Stop 25% Pay Increase

October 26, 2011 6:45 PM

Cambridgeshire Lib Dems protesting against rise in Councillor allowances

Liberal Democrats from around the East of England launched at their regional conference held at Cambridge Regional College, the campaign to reverse the 25% increase in councillor allowances that has outraged local people.

Speaking to Lib Dems from around the region Kilian Bourke, Leader of Cambridgeshire Lib Dems, said: "I know that many of you work in local government and respect the work that councillors do in their communities; but I hope you will agree with me that a 25% pay rise when the council is laying off staff and freezing council tax is not acceptable."

"In order to stop this from going ahead the Liberal Democrats have put a motion to council to rescind the increase. We have also started an online petition to give voice to public opinion. This petition goes live today."

"The Leader of the Conservatives has called this cheap politics. It is not cheap politics. It is expensive politics: 25% more expensive."

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert said: "This increase shows just how out of touch the County Conservatives are. At a time when everyone else is facing pay freezes or cuts, it is crassly insensitive for the County Tories to be pushing through whopping pay rises for themselves. I hope that in the cold light of day they will realise their mistake. I support my Lib Dem County colleagues completely in their efforts to get them to change their minds."

Cambridge City Council Leader Sian Reid said: "Compared to City Council allowances the County's are already very generous. I cannot get over the size of the increase. It shows an astonishing indifference to public opinion."

The Lib Dem motion goes to council on Dec 7.

The petition is available online at: http://tinyurl.com/6784zw4