The leader of Trafford Labour Group, Councillor Andrew Western, has repeated his pledge to return the £9,000 pay rise recently accepted by the leader of Trafford Council if Labour takes control of the council in May.

The controversial pay rise – which Tory leader Councillor Sean Anstee voted to accept in spite of Labour opposition – represented a 30% pay rise for the country’s youngest council leader and was announced shortly before the release of budget proposals that see cash-strapped Trafford Council closing libraries, children’s centres and youth centres this year.

Councillor Western, who first promised he would return the increase when he became leader of Trafford Labour Group in November, said: "For me this is about fairness. It simply can’t be right that whilst services are being cut and council staff are having their pay squeezed – or even losing their jobs – the leader of the council has accepted a 30% pay rise.

"That’s why I didn’t support the proposal at the time, and why I have said that if Labour takes control of the council in May, I will return that pay rise.

"Increasing the leader’s allowance in these difficult times just goes to show how out of touch Trafford’s Tories are.

"The message this has sent to residents is loud and clear: it’s one rule for Councillor Anstee and another for the rest of us."