Bromley Tory plans to cut Lib Dem leader’s allowance ‘corrupt’

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A council’s plan to cut the allowance for its third-largest party leader has been called “a load of rubbish” and “corrupt” by councillors.

The proposal from the Conservative group also included increases to allowances in positions held largely by Conservative members.

Bromley council’s ruling Conservative Group put forward a proposal to cut the £4,667 annual payment to the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The plans were discussed at a general purposes committee meeting for Bromley council on Thursday as part of the draft council member allowances for the upcoming financial year.

Councillor Mike Jack, from the Chislehurst Matters party, said at the meeting that the plans were “a load of rubbish”.

Cllr Jack said: “I think it’s a poor excuse. I’m struggling with this whole concept of cutting the third party’s allowance. I think it’s morally not right. It’s corrupt… People don’t want to get into politics when they see things like this happening. It’s totally unacceptable. And I think your argument is not an argument – it’s morally not right.”

Tory councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe said that there were only three other London boroughs that pay an allowance to the leader of the second-largest opposition party.

She said: “We find ourselves in the unusual situation of having two other representative parties in this council at the moment. So that added to the reasoning behind this, that if we give one then do we give a third or a fourth?”

It comes as increases to allowances in positions held primarily by Conservative members are also proposed.

Councillor Julie Ireland, leader of the Lib Dems Group, said: “I’m resentful particularly that the redistribution of the second [largest opposition group] leader’s allowance is going where it’s planned.

“I also would like to point out to members how dangerous the precedent is to allow one political party to punish another political party by interfering with members’ allowances.”

Tory councillor Simon Fawthrop said at the meeting that the decision was not about any political party, at which opposition councillors laughed.

At the meeting, the committee voted to recommend the Conservative Group’s proposal, in a 7-6 vote.

The decision on council member’s allowances for the upcoming financial year will be decided at the full council meeting on February 27.

Pictured top: Bromley Civic Centre, where Bromley council’s headquarters are currently based (Picture: Google Earth)