An influential local government leader has written to prime minister David Cameron, warning him not to support plans for a hike in MPs' pay while cuts to council services and wages continue.

Cllr James Alexander, the Labour leader of York City Council, has urged Mr Cameron to publicly reject a proposal by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to increase MPs' basic pay by almost £10,000 per year.

Cllr Alexander claimed that accepting the proposals would represent ‘hypocrisy' at a time when ‘Government is telling councils across the country to tighten their belts'.
The leader points out that many councillors have not had a pay rise this year, and often hold a second job while in public service.

‘Hard working people are struggling and they are seeing wages stagnate, whilst the cost of living increases. We decided it would be immoral to take any increase,' his letter to Mr Cameron reads.

Cllr Alexander also asks why MPs continue to receive final salary pensions when councillors do not. Referring to Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps' ‘offensive' description of councillors as mere ‘scout leaders' earlier this year, Cllr Alexander said elected members had assumed ‘large amounts of responsibility during very trying times'.

Prior to the IPSA report, Mr Cameron said the idea of a large pay rise for MPs was ‘unthinkable'. Deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, has said he would not accept a significant pay rise.