A POLITICAL war of words erupted in Swindon's council chambers last night after Tory councillors voted in favour of an overall 18.65 per cent hike in their allowances.

The Conservative group overwhelmingly supported proposals for the allowance increase, at a cost of £102,900, overruling an amendment by former Labour councillor Andy Harrison to freeze the planned increases for a year.

But the debate sparked a confrontation in the full council meeting when Labour group leader Kevin Small (Western) backtracked on his previous support of the planned increase.

Under the proposals, put forward by the Swindon Independent Remuneration Panel, council leader Mike Bawden is set to net an additional £5,500 a year with several of his colleagues also pocketing substantial allowance increases.

Of the total allowance budget, all 59 councillors will each receive a basic £7,250, amounting to £427,750.

And the special responsibility allowance cost will be £180,750 a 63.57 per cent increase.

Coun Harrison (Penhill) said: "It is wrong that we should be awarding ourselves extra. These increases are not performance-related bonuses.

"At a time when we are making cuts to services like Dial a Ride and the Health Hydro, we should not be in support of these proposals."

Although backing the panel's recommendations, Coun Bawden said he felt it was not for councillors to decide the allowance increases.

He said: "I would suggest to the council that they support it (the proposals). I do it with a fairly heavy heart because I do believe it should be set nationally."