Political parties take a cut of council tax claim

Oldham councillors are supporting their political parties from their civic allowances, says a local independent councillor.

Saddleworth parish councillor Ken Hulme says the practice should stop: “As an independent councillor who is not a member of any political party, I strongly resent my council tax being used to subsidise political parties I don’t support.”

Evening Chronicle inquiries with Liberal Democrat, Labour and Tory parties found they all expect councillors to pay a percentage of their allowance to the local party.

“If you want to stand as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Oldham, you have to agree to hand over 10 per cent of all your councillor’s allowances to the party. There is no choice, it’s compulsory,” claimed Councillor Hulme, who hopes to become an independent Oldham councillor at the May elections and who plans to give up some of his allowances, if elected.

He says documents with the Electoral Commission show the local Lib-Dems have paid £8,250 a quarter, or £33,000 in a full year, to their party.

Lib-Dem leader Councillor Howard Sykes said that was how the money appeared in the accounts, but it was recharged to Oldham and used to support the local party and spent in Oldham.

He added: “Councillors pay into a pot to keep residents informed. We make it clear that when people seek election to office this is expected of them, a certain percentage — which makes it equitable so those who get more pay more.

“I think Councillor Hulme is very aware of this and is attempting to smear us all.”

Local Lib-Dem treasurer David Hampson, said: “They are voluntary contributions out of taxed income.”

Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “We do receive funding on a voluntary basis from councillors’ allowances and party members, and it is done to pay for campaigning activities.

“It can be two or three per cent. It is used to give a certain amount of money to wards to make sure there is a community campaign right across the borough.”

Tory leader Councillor Jack Hulme said Conservatives have a similar scheme, with a single-figure percentage from each councillor. The money does not go out of the borough and is used for leaflets and campaigning, he added.