In the local election campaign this May the Green Party manifesto proposed a maximum 10 to one ratio between the highest and lowest local authority salary. Even those who voted Green may have thought this a little optimistic given the ingrained culture of inequality in this country. However in October, Islington Council in London became the first town hall to pledge that its highest-paid employee will earn no more that 10 times that of its lowest-paid worker.

It has also committed to paying at least the London Living Wage of £8.30 an hour to all directly employed staff. Islington’s chief executive, who started in June, has already accepted a £50,000 cut in salary compared with the previous chief executive.

She will now earn £160,000, making her, believe it or not, one of the lowest-paid local authority chief executives in London.

The Green Party believes that West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Dorset County Council should follow this example and calls on the Liberal Democrat Groups to adopt the policy, and attempt to get a majority of councillors to support it. Outside London the living wage is deemed to be £7.20 per hour which is well above the adult minimum wage of £6.08 per hour. We believe the councils should set an example by paying the living wage. Bringing low pay up and excessive salaries down is morally correct and beneficial to society. Evidence shows that more equal societies are generally happier and healthier, with less violent crime.

Julian Jones, Press Officer, West and South Dorset, Green Party