A motion put forward to at today’s full council meeting of Cornwall Council on the Governments proposals for regional (public sector) pay. Many Councillors stood up to denounce the Governments proposals, with comments of: a person on £20k in London pays the very same tax as a person on £20k in Cornwall. As was a similar comment on the price of bread in London and in Cornwall is the same.

I have blogged before on the shocking difference of pay in Cornwall compared to other parts of the UK. If regional pay is ever allowed to come into force it will harm Cornwall in many ways including the difficulty in attracting or retaining a skilled workforce. Also with less pay, it will mean less money going into the Cornish economy. That outcome speaks for itself.

During the debate, I spoke on this subject asking my fellow Councillors to put aside party politics and stand united as representatives of the whole of Cornwall to send a clear message to the Government that regional pay is not welcome in Cornwall. I summed my words on the debate with:

Regional Pay is not about fair pay, but cutting pay.

It is not often that the overwhelming majority of Councils from all the political corners stand behind a motion, but today they did. No-one voted again this motion, but a few Councillors abstained.

Now, Cornwall Council will lobby the Government by letter, or other means to make sure regional pay is never implemented. Well done to Councillor’s Hannaford and Folkes for bringing this motion to the council.