Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash says bid to bring back councillor allowances is 'pure greed'

And with local elections fast approaching, they deserve to know exactly what those seeking to represent them stand for.

That is why Reform UK’s proposal to reinstate special responsibility allowances for councillors must be called out for what it is: pure greed.

And residents have the power to stop it at the ballot box.

At a time when families across our town are tightening their belts, Reform is proposing to loosen theirs.

Their plan could see councillors pocketing up to an extra £25,000 a year.

That is not a minor change. It is a clear statement of priorities and it sends the wrong message.

Because leadership is not about what you can take. It is about what you are willing to give.

Hartlepool has seen a different example.

The last council leader here to take a special responsibility allowance was Reform’s own Mike Young, during his time as a Conservative.

Since then, Labour leaders Brenda Harrison and Pamela Hargreaves chose a different path, carrying out the role without taking an extra penny.

The same principle applied to Labour’s policy chairs: no bonuses, no top-ups, just public service.

That was not about symbolism. It was about principle. Public office is exactly that, public. It is not a perk. It is a responsibility.

I know this from experience. When I served as a councillor and received a special allowance, I chose to use it to fund children’s play equipment in local parks.

That money made a real difference to families. It is hard to see how putting similar sums into councillors’ own pockets achieves the same.

Reform will argue that extra responsibility deserves extra pay.

But leadership is about example as much as effort. In Hartlepool, that example has been restraint, integrity, and putting residents first. Reform’s proposal would tear that up.

Labour councillors reject this approach. We believe people should stand for office based on what they can give, not what they can get.

Ultimately, this is about trust.

If councillors are willing to prioritise their own financial gain, whose interests come first when tougher decisions arise?

Hartlepool deserves representatives who give more than they take and at the ballot box residents can ensure that is exactly what they get.