Brent council hire £30,000 butler... but can't provide care for war heros
COUNCILLORS have been accused of acting “like Downton Abbey” after advertising a £30,000-a-year job as the mayor’s chauffeur and silver polisher.
In a move reminiscent of Downton Abbey, Lesley Jones has hired an expensive butler
The lackey is to be hired as cash-strapped Brent Council in north London plans £95million cuts to its services over the next four years.
This is Brent not Downton Abbey
Sujata Aurora, of Brent Fightback campaign group against the cuts, said: “This is Brent not Downton Abbey.
“It reinforces the idea that politicians are maintaining their own perks while they impose austerity on their residents.”
Robert Clark is Britain's oldest surviving prisoner of war
Clark was denied care because of 'budgetary restrictions'
The successful applicant will work a 36-hour week driving the Labour mayor, Councillor Lesley Jones, around and keeping “the silver in the Mayor’s parlour clean and polished”.
Austerity measures also mean Brent residents face council tax rises and having to pay for services which were previously free.
Mike Clark, whose war hero father Robert, 97, was denied care in his home by Brent due to “budgetary restrictions” was outraged to hear a chauffeur was being hired.
He said Robert, a survivor of Nazi prisoner of war camps, would be “amazed”.
Mike added: “I thought the days of chauffeuring were long gone. What is wrong with public transport – or driving themselves?”
Harry Davis, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “What a waste of taxpayers’ money. Residents will be rightly furious. In tough economic times councils should tighten their belts, just as families have to, not splurge on unnecessary jobs.”
A Brent Council spokesperson said: “The Mayor of Brent is the borough’s first citizen and carries out a vast array of charitable and community engagements. This role provides essential support.”
The butler will be required to keep the silverware polished