Plea for Councillors to be paid full-time wage

It's claimed making the career more financially viable for a greater number of people could result in a more diverse representation at local government level. What do you think?

Author: Lewis MichiePublished 12th May 2021

Local Scottish Green activist, Guy Ingerson, has called for councillors across Scotland to be paid a full-time wage.

The basic salary of a councillor in Scotland is a part-time wage of £17,854 per year. Mr Ingerson claims that a full-time salary is needed in order to widen participation in local politics to people from working class and minority backgrounds and to Scotland’s younger people.

Mr Ingerson said “Local government cannot continue to be the almost exclusive preserve of the retired, wealthy or MP and MSP staffers. We need to remove barriers to political participation. The new Scottish Government and Parliament can and must address this.”

Statistics from 2018 show that 45% of councillors were retired, 96% white and only 14.8% were under 45yrs old.

Mr Ingerson stated “When we see statistics like these, the public can see for themselves the possible reason that local authorities, and many councillors, seem so out-of-touch with the reality of ordinary people’s lives. We need better representation.

"The easiest way to do this is to pay people fairly so that more people from underrepresented groups can afford to stand for election. Good councillors work full-time despite being paid as part-timers. I know that many politicians are scared to go near this issue, they think the public reaction will automatically be negative. I have little doubt that even though they know that my proposal is sound that they will attack me for it. They need to get a back bone.

Politics should be about being honest with people and leading our communities to find solutions to problems. Let’s get more ordinary people into politics. Let’s get people elected who can hold council executives earning £100,000 salaries to account.”

Controversy has surrounded councillor expenses on numerous occasions. Many have been criticised for expenses relating to clothing and travel.

Mr Ingerson said “I understand the frustration many have had with these scandals but I firmly believe that paying councillors full-time wages would alleviate some of these problems. I come from a background that means I wouldn’t be able to afford a new suit for work if I was elected tomorrow. I would struggle to pay my rent and bills on an ordinary councillors salary. I just about get by on student loans and working in retail at the moment.

Many others are themselves in similar positions, particularly with two oil price crashes and the pandemic, and may not stand for election at all as a result. For those with less scruples, who are used to high paid jobs or where claiming expenses is par of the course to bump up your income, then the temptation is there. We should remove this temptation and get better representation whilst we are at it. We need the new Scottish Government and Parliament to act.”

Local authority elections are due to take place next year, in May 2022.

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