David Cameron told 'Get your facts right' - Jeremy Corbyn accuses PM of salary gaffe over chief executive pay

Published: 22 April 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

PRIME Minister David Cameron has been accused of misleading the public and telling lies after his latest gaffe in which he got the salary of Islington’s chief executive wrong.

Now the furious Labour leader of Islington Council, along with MP Jeremy Corbyn, are demanding an apology.

In a speech to party activists on Wednesday the Prime Minister rounded on Labour councils, and singled out Islington for overpaying its top civil servant.

“Or what about Labour-run Islington, which is slashing frontline jobs and children’s services, but hasn’t put a finger on the chief executive’s salary of £220,000,” he said.

Not only was the figure wrong – the outgoing chief executive John Foster is paid £210,000 – the salary has been cut by £50,000 to make it one of the lowest in the country.

Mr Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North, added in an angry letter to Mr Cameron that Mr Foster was appointed by the Lib Dems, the Conservatives’ coalition partners in government, and they ratified his salary, which is higher than the Prime Minister’s. “For your information the previous Lib Dem-appointed leader was earning an astonishing £210,000, and this salary has since been reduced by £50,000, to make it one of the lowest among council leaders in the country,” he wrote.

Town Hall leader Councillor Catherine West also criticised the Prime Minister, and demanded an apology. “What David Cameron has said is a lie. We have cut £50,000 from our chief executive’s salary,” she said. “As a PR man by trade Mr Cameron should understand the importance of getting his facts right.  

“Unlike Conservative-controlled Bromley, Islington is not closing a single children’s centre, even though our percentage cut is more than twice the size of theirs.

“We have found over £25million of back-office efficiency savings, but the truth is that the government has cut areas of great need, like Islington, by more than twice the national average. 

“What David Cameron said is simply wrong and he should apologise to Islington for misleading its residents.”

Mr Cameron has been accused of making a number of gaffes recently. Earlier this month he angered Oxford University after wrongly claiming only one black student was admitted to the institution last year. The true figure was 26.

 An unrepentant spokesman for Mr Cameron refused to apologise yesterday (Thursday), insisting the comments were “factually accurate”. He pointed out that the new chief executive, Lesley Seary, who will be paid the lower salary, does not take over until June. “So the salary being paid is still £220,000,” he said. “Labour in Islington have had a year to cut the salary and haven’t done so. It’s ludicrous to say it’s a lie. It is factually the case.”