Opposition councillors have shrugged off claims of hypocrisy by refusing to take a pay increase for accepting two non-voting places on the executive that runs Harrow Council.

Labour group leader Councillor David Perry will join council leader Councillor Susan Hall's newly-appointed Tory cabinet alongside his colleague Councillor Graham Henson as non-executive members whose role it is to scrutinise important decisions from within.

Mr Perry criticised Ms Hall and her deputy Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane when they similarly accepted an invite to become non-voting members of the cabinet committee of Mr Idaikkadar’s rebel Independent Labour group, which was ousted and replaced by the Conservatives after just six months in power.

Ms Hall and Mr Macleod-Cullinane claimed the Special Responsibilities Allowance available for the role, which had been bumped up by £5,000 to £13,060, and Mr Perry said at the time they “have attempted to seem selfless but in reality have teamed up with the Independent Labour group only for a pay day”.

Mr Perry said this week: “In the interests of the people of Harrow I have decided to take the position of an observer to cabinet in order to hold the Conservative administration to account for the decisions which they will be taking, and continue my commitment to residents in working on their behalf.

“I will not be accepting the £5,000 greedy pay rise which was offered to Susan Hall in June for taking up the same position.

“I feel that the pay rise offered by the then-leader Thaya Idaikkadar was politically motivated and offered in self-interest to protect his own leadership and his colleagues’ positions.

“I will not be taking a penny extra for the additional responsibilities, I did not agree with the councillor allowance pay rise in June, and I do not agree with it now.”

Mr Idaikkadar had accused Mr Perry of “double standards and hypocrisy” for accepting the non-executive positions on the cabinet committee before Mr Perry confirmed he would decline the extra cash that came with it by claiming only the £8,670 allowance for being leader of the largest political group.

Mr Perry said: “Over the past four months we have seen this Independent Labour group make unfounded politically motivated accusations about the Labour group and party, and even the hard working Harrow Council officers.

“I suggest that the Independent Labour Group once and for all stop the constant negativity and political mud-slinging and move on, serve your residents and stop trying to tarnish the reputation of Harrow Council which the hard working staff and councillors have spent years building up.”