𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

More than 300 council employees earned more than the Prime Minister last year, new analysis reveals. Some 320 town hall workers across the UK raked in more than Sir Keir Starmer’s £172,153 salary over the course of the 2024-25 financial year, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) annual Town Hall Rich List report.

The pressure group said the figure has jumped by a third from the previous year. A record 4,733 council staff received over £100,000, and of these 1,255 were on more than £150,000.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TPA, said: “Taxpayers are caught in a pincer movement with a record-breaking tax burden on one side and a bloated public sector feathering its nest on the other.

“Our latest Town Hall Rich List exposes a surging class of council bosses enjoying six-figure packages, even as they plead poverty, slash frontline services, and hike council tax bills far beyond inflation.

“Residents can see exactly how many local bureaucrats are receiving plush packages and judge for themselves whether they’re getting value for money.”

The Tories and Reform UK hit out at the eye-watering salaries for town hall staff, which comes as local authorities have routinely hiked council tax by the maximum 4.99%.

Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverly said: “With soaring council tax and the threat of the four-day week in local government, people feel they are paying more and getting less.

“What’s more, Labour’s top-down restructuring of local government will lead to a bonanza of golden goodbyes and pension payments to laid-off council staff – all funded by the taxpayer.

“The Conservatives are the only party who can be relied on to keep council tax down and deliver value for money for residents.”

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice added: “This staggering analysis exposes the mess Reform UK has been left to clean up in councils across Britain, with fat cat council officials raking in eye-watering salaries while delivering shocking services, all whilst hammering hard-working families with regular council tax hikes every year.

“Of course top pay is justified if you’re delivering results for taxpayers.

“But the dire state of our local councils proves that they have been rewarding failed, overpaid pen-pushers for years. Residents deserve better.”

The highest paid council employee in the country was based at Staffordshire council according to the TPA report.

They were paid £457,500 but neither their name or job title was provided, nor the breakdown of how their total pay was awarded.