WIGAN Council's lone Tory, Cllr Michael Winstanley, voted against a rise in councillors' expenses.

At last week's full council meeting he was the only one of 72 councillors to speak against the nine per cent increase which will take the basic allowance paid to all councillors from £6,330 to £6,913.

The Orrell ward councillor said: "I do not believe that this rise is justified at this time.

"It should not be forgotten that this year the Labour Council in Wigan increased the council tax by eight per cent. Who knows how much it will rise next year?

"The council is also undergoing a fundamental budget review. The council will have to make some difficult decisions over the next couple of years as there is a £6m structural deficit in the budget.

"Having considered these facts how can it be right that the members' allowance budget be increased?

"I believe that members of the council should have shown more restraint on this issue and rejected this independent review of members' allowances."

The increases, which will see the leaders' total allowances rise to £34,913, and deputy leader and cabinet members special responsibilty allowances to £12,480, will be introduced next May.