HUNDREDS of our readers have this week shown their strength of feeling by backing the Times Series campaign to Reject the Rise.

The pay rise voted in by Barnet councillors, who awarded themselves huge increases at a time when everyone else is tightening their belts, has received an unprecedented response so far — all in the space of one week. And this is just the beginning of the campaign.

Barnet Council’s new allowances structure will mean leader Lynne Hillan could pocket up to £20,000 extra a year. Cabinet members also stand to double their cash in what they claim is a “redistribution” of existing money.

It’s a move that has sparked outcry among the people of Barnet, trade union members, opposition councillors and Tory MPs Matthew Offord and Mike Freer, who were councillors themselves until May.

Backing our campaign this week, Labour leader Alison Moore said her party stood shoulder to shoulder with the Times Series campaign to allow the community to voice its opposition to the pay rises.

She said: “The Labour group voted against it in its entirety and we think it is wholly wrong. I’m very clear when I speak to people on the street in Barnet and outside the borough, they are horrified. People won’t wear this.”

And the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Jack Cohen, said: “In all my time on the council I have never seen anything like this in terms of public outrage.

“We absolutely back the campaign. I hope the sensible Tories will turn on their leaders and either get rid of them or make them change their minds.”

If you want to add your voice to the campaign, sign our Reject the Rise petition here.