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REBEL councillors in Liverpool are opposing an increase in their pay at a time when the city’s people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Five councillors who have either been expelled or resigned from the Labour Party have formed a new group called Liverpool Community Independents.
The Labour-run council has been involved in a series of controversies, among them a £16 million rise in the cost of its energy use, including supplies paid for from school budgets, due to a contract blunder.
Councillors are to vote on a proposed 1.75 per cent increase in their own allowances, taking the total to £10,775 a year.
But the newly formed independent group opposes the rise and has pledged to give the money to a “community cause” if it is awarded.
In a statement, the councillors said: “The group believes that, in the light of a brutal round of cuts in the annual budget and a catastrophic energy bill failure by the council leadership, costing the city £16m, such a rise will not be viewed favourably by the people of Liverpool.”
Deputy group leader Alan Gibbons said: “While we are in favour of councillors being paid appropriately, we believe that, given the extreme circumstances of the £16m energy bill fiasco and the cost-of-living crisis, we should make a symbolic gesture of solidarity to the people of Liverpool and forego the rise, saving the council in the region of £1.4m.”
The council, which was approached for comment, will discuss the proposed increase in allowances for its 90 members tomorrow.