SPECIAL REPORT: Councillors Expenses

11.16.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Jun 2009

The amount claimed by City Centre Lib Dem Councillors in expenses and special allowances

Manchester City Council has published the expenses claimed by all 96 Councillors in Manchester. All councillors are paid a standard annual allowance, with some councillors paid an extra responsibility allowances. Some expenses such as travel and child care costs can also be claimed, but most councillors are expected to met their expenses for being a councillor from the annual allowance - which is £ 14,640 in 2008/9.

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, and the three Liberal Democrat Councillors for the City Centre claimed no expenses or special responsibility allowance for the past year.

"Local councils have operated in a more open way for a number of years, and the system of allowances is not open to abuse like parliament", said Cllr Marc Ramsbottom. "Perhaps MP's can learn a thing or two from local government, in helping to clean up their system of expenses", he added.

You can download the full list of Manchester Councillor's allowances and expenses from the City Council website at www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/1028/councillors-allowances.