Lib Dem Leader Refuses Council Pay Rise

6.55.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th May 2009

Lib Dem Leader Cllr David McBride is refusing his pay increase from the Council this year

Bromley's Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride has refused to take this year's increase in the allowance paid to councillors, saying that it is the "wrong time" for politicians to increase their pay.

The increase in allowances for councillors takes place in May, and they are expected to rise by about 3%.

Cllr David McBride said, "This is the wrong time for us to take a pay rise. If the Liberal Democrat budget had been passed in February then we would have frozen the increase for this year, as well as reversing the 30% average rise to top Tories last year. I cannot go back on that just because the increase was voted through by the Tories. As such, I will not be taking my increase this year."