Empty seats in the chamber; 20 councillors did not take part in the vote on allowances

• THE council voted to raise councillors’ allowances above inflation last week, (Labour rebels quietly walk out as councillors vote for their own pay rise, October 8).

We personally don’t feel we can accept this pay rise while our community continues to suffer from nine years of devastating Tory cuts.

As the Conservative government bleeds Camden and other councils dry, forcing local authorities to make impossible choices, we want every penny to go towards the services that need it most.

While we strongly agree with colleagues who wish to improve diversity within the council, we have not seen evidence that the pay rise will achieve this.

The majority of BAME, disabled and working-class councillors sit on the back benches and this increase will not immediately affect them or make becoming a councillor more accessible to people from diverse backgrounds.

Now, more than ever, we desperately need more councillors from different backgrounds to reflect Camden’s diverse community, especially as it is our BAME, disabled and working-class residents who have been disproportionately impacted by Conservative cuts.

As a gesture of solidarity we will be donating this year’s increase in our basic allowances to mayor, Maryam Eslamdoust’s chosen charity, Solace Women’s Aid.

As a result of the Conservatives’ austerity measures, women’s refuges have seen their funding slashed, resulting in thousands of victims of domestic violence being turned away when they seek help.

Solace Women’s Aid are on the front line, providing support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We urge anyone who is able to do so to please contribute to this life-saving charity.

We would encourage all other councillors who can afford it, to donate to Solace as well. Find it at www.justgiving/fundraising/mayor-Camden.

CLLR RANJIT SINGH
CLLR LEO CASSARANI
CLLR MARYAM ESLAMDOUST
CLLR DOUGLAS BEATTIE
CLLR SUE VINCENT
CLLR THOMAS GARDINER
CLLR GEORGIE ROBERTSON
CLLR LORNA RUSSELL