The deputy leader of Westminster Council has caused anger after claiming that a 'basic' first-job salary is in the region of £50,000 to £80,000.
The deputy leader of Westminster Council has caused anger after claiming that a ‘basic’ first-job salary pays in the region of £50,000 to £80,000.
Talking about housing the London, cllr Robert Davis said
“What we really need is affordable housing, not just social housing, for people who are in their first job, have just got a basic, simple job and a salary of £50,000 to £80,000 a year.”
Cllr Davis made the comments during an interview with a PR company that specialises in working with property developers.
In reality, anyone earning over £50,000 would be in the top 10 per cent of earners, and the top 30 per cent in Westminster. The average full-time employee in the UK earns £26,200 according to the latest figures from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, while the average basic graduate salary is between £27,000 – £29,000.
Fellow Westminster councillor David Boothroyd said it showed “the sections of society the council leadership is in touch with”.
“With everyone else, they’re not so much out of touch, as completely cut off,” Mr Boothroyd said.
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82 Responses to “Tory council leader believes ‘basic salary’ is 80k”
Charlotte
WTF how can anyone be this out of touch?!?!?! Even with my degree i still can’t get a job i’m either under or over qualified therefore had to start my own business but as it hasn’t been running for 2 years i can’t buy even though i can afford it and it’s cheaper than renting! This country is run by idiots
David_Boothroyd
When I saw Cllr Davis’ comment I went to http://www.ifs.org.uk/wheredoyoufitin/ which showed that anyone with a £50,000 job would be in the top 3% earners, and anyone with an £80,000 job would be in the top 1%.
That’s across the whole UK. Now perhaps he might have been thinking of earnings just in Westminster. The most recent statistics for average annual earnings in Westminster are from 2012 and given in Table 8 here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-280149
Table 8.7a, row 242 shows that the median earnings in Westminster were £39,665. Note the ‘Percentiles’ on the right. Unfortunately they are not given over 70% because the statistics are unreliable, but it’s clear that anyone on £50k and already living in Westminster is in the top third of earnings within the City of Westminster.
Richard
Bit rude not to put in a link to where you get this stuff, no?
http://www.westendextra.com/news/2013/nov/claims-council-leadership-‘completely-cut-society’-after-tory’s-‘£80k-basic-salary’-re
La Des
I’m no fan of the Tories but it may be worthwhile listening to the entire interview to ensure his words are not being taken out of context. It sounds like hes discussing professionals working in London, rather than the workforce as a whole, and if that’s the case £50-£80k is probably quite accurate .
La Des
I imagine it is to be honest