My Taxes 24/25

Every year I publish my payslips from Havering Council, so you can see how much you are paying me (through your taxes). I do this because the system isn't transparent enough. The council website tells you my 'allowance', but it doesn't tell you the full picture. For example, it doesn't tell you that Havering Council has to pay 'employer National Insurance' for Councillors, as it does for all employees, and that this costs thousands each year.

You reading that I have an allowance of £10,400 a year also doesn't tell you what I do for that money, and what taxes I pay on it.

You are my employer, and most employers know what they pay their staff. So, you should be able to know that to. That is why I became the first politician in the UK to publish my payslips, and my taxes, and I'll do so until I am no longer a politician.

Too many people in politics game the system. They make outrageous expanse claims, like for second properties that they don't really need as they live just 1hr away, or for meals, despite the fact they earn £90K and most other Brits have to buy their own lunch from their salaries. Some even claim their Christmas cards on expenses. The system is broken, being abused, and means the public no longer has trust.

So, I share share share... time to rebuild trust with radical transparency.

What did I earn?

In the tax year up to April 2025, Havering Council paid me a total of £17,912.04. I paid £6266.80 in tax, meaning I took home £11,645.24.

My salary is made up of two amounts. £10,412 is my 'basic allowance'. Every councillor receives this, whether they do much work or not. As long as they turn up to a meeting once every six months.

On top of my £10k, I get a further £7,500 because I have been voted as the Chairman of a Committee. I Chair the Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee (Places), which looks at things such as roads and housing. Most councillors don't get that extra. However, someone who is a Cabinet Member will get an extra £25,000, which means you pay them £35,412 a year.

I have put my end of year tax certificate (P60) below.

I've not managed to find my March 2025 payslip, which is going to be the same as most other months, except that it will show the final figure of Employer N.I paid by Haveirng Council. However, by Feburary 2025 the council had already been charged £1115 in Employer NI for me. This means that they probably had to pay around £1200 for the year in total.

You won't see that £1200 published anywhere. So any Councillor who tells you that the figures are clear and online is... missing this.

This means that, in total, I cost you a total of £19,120 a year. That is the about the council tax collected from 9 average Havering homes.

Here is a question for you. Why are other councillors not this clear, and why do some get so defensive when asked about pay?

Am I employed?

If you mean, "do I have a job as well as being a Councillor?", then yes. I am employed full time in a housing association. I declare that on my Register of Interests with Havering. If you mean "does Havering employ me?", then the answer is apparently complicated.

A number of councillors refuse to call their allowance a salary or a wage. They argue that they are not employed by the council and don't get a salary. I think that's being purposefully vague and obstructive.

Consider this.

Councillors get a set payment each month, paid into a bank account, for doing a role. Havering pays Employer National Insurance contributions on that and the councillor receives a pay-slip and pays taxes.

Sounds a lot like a wage or salary to me.

Councillors don't fall into the same catergory as other council staff. But, I consider myself employed, by you the public.

The summary of all of this is that, now, you have more details on my income than of any other councillor in Havering. You can see exaclty what I cost the taxpayer, to the penny. I want you to have more access to information on where your taxes go. Afterall, you worked hard to earn your wage, you get no choice on whether to pay taxes or not, and I am elected to represent you. So, seeing as you are forced to pay for me and can go to prison if you don't, I think you should have more transparency.

It's the minimum you deserve.

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My p60

Payslips

April 2025

May 2025