Surrey Tories vote themselves £214,000 from your taxes

Surrey Tories have shown just how little they care about their electorate by voting themselves increases that amount to £214,000 per year. While everyone else is being told about the need for austerity, the leader and deputy leader have pushed through 60% increases in their own salaries.

Liberal Democrat Surrey County Councillor Ian Beardsmore is disgusted and even the most cynical of councillors were left breathless by the Conservatives' latest stunt of awarding themselves these huge pay rises with your money.

An Independent Panel which looked at Councillors allowances had made recommendations publically that already had Lib Dems worried. But greedy Tories cooked up something far worse in secret. They made an amendment on the day without any warning which sent their pay hikes through the roof.

Surrey councillors have seen no increase for five years, so many thought the 5.3% increase to the basic allowance was fair. BUT councillors can get 'Special Responsibility Allowances' on top of this, it was here the Tories launched their ram raid on your taxes. Only a minority of Councillors are meant to get this extra. Now more than half the council does, almost all of them Conservatives.

Tories pushed these extra payments up through the roof AND created 15 (!) new ones for themselves to ensure enough of them got their snouts in the trough. All paid for with YOUR money.

Lib Dems have asked Secretary of State Eric Pickles to review the Rip Off.

Lib Dems Voted NO to Tory greed

14 Top Tories share more than £100,000 PAY RISE

15 NEW payouts for conservatives

70% of Tory Councillors now get extra money