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Printed by Rockbourne Solutions, 29 The Vale London NW11 8SE and published by J.Davies on behalf of Jack Cohen and Susette and Monroe Palmer (Liberal Democrats) all at 6 Carlton Close NW3 7UA |
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WHILE REPEATEDLY RE-ITERATING THE NEED FOR RESTRAINT BARNET TORIES VOTED FOR HIGHER SALERIES FOR LEADER AND CABINET. Speaking against this blatant misuse of Council Taxpayers money Cllr Susette Palmer said: 1. All the national party leaders have confirmed the need for cuts and restraint in these difficult economic times. Tory speakers this evening including the Leader Constantly re-iterated the need for cuts and economies.
Apparently this doesn’t apply to the Leader, Cllr Hillan, the Tory Cabinet, or the other positions listed for a raise.
How can this possibly be justified at this time? Saying it is a London scheme is no justification. Many London Councils-including Barnet, up to now, have other schemes. That is just a convenient weasel excuse for the increases.
Before the elections we, as a Council, voted no increases in our salaries. Indeed some of us (inc me) proposed a joint decrease on the grounds we were willing to tighten our collective belts.
I and my group can live with decreases what we cannot accept is these massive rises for the Cabinet and Leader.
The proposed scheme is morally outrageous and ethically unsound and frankly I am surprised that practitioners of any religion among the Tory Councillors can go along with it.
In particular those of you who voted for restraint before the election have cynically duped your voters.
It may be that I am wrong about the the Tory members. And they will not follow like a flock of sheep behind the Judas goat of their Leader. You do not have to vote for this disgraceful proposal. Please do not console yourself with the placebo of collective responsibility. A vote taken by a group is not and should not be binding on ones own moral responsibility. Currently we politicians are at low ebb in the public opinion over the parliamentary allowance scandal. This proposal is just such another scandal.
It is a moral and ethical outrage. No one with the vestige of a conscience could possibly vote for it.
NOT ONLY DID THE TORIES PUSH THIS THROUGH BUT THEY TOOK A VINDICTIVE REVENGE ON CLLR KATE SALINGER WHO ABSTAINED BY REMOVING HER FROM ALL HER COMMITTEES. THEY HAVE A DOUBLD FIGURE MAJORITY. THEY CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR CONSCIENCE. Since one joins a political party because you agree with its views this is a very rare occurrence. I do not believe it is a fair or decent way to behave.
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