Following the launch of a petition by members of the Goole Branch Labour Party, concerned about wage increases for ERYC's top officers from £152,970 to £162,000, and £111,106 to £123,000, prospective Tory MP Andrew Percy has spoken out.

He told the Courier: "Like most people I have concerns about these increases, particularly during the current economic climate.

"The East Riding claim that the salaries need to be brought more into line with those of senior officers in Hull.

"Labour should perhaps remember who it was in Hull who agreed to the big increases there which are now been used in part to justify these increases.

"We need no lectures from Labour councillors though as we all remember the role of Labour Councillors in the Goole Town Council salary scandal of 2000/01.

"The fact is senior Council officer salaries have soared in the last ten years which the Labour Government seem quite happy to let continue.

"The Government control local government finance and so if they wanted to act on big pay rises they could."

A Goole Branch Labour Party spokesman responded: 'We find Mr Percy's comments hardly a justification for what the Conservative East Riding is doing now.

"It is true that wages have increased under Labour across the public sector like doctors, nurses after years of Tory neglect.

"However, he says he is concerned by the pay rises but then, in a political attack against Labour, he seems to go along with the justification by Conservative East Riding to link it with Liberal Democrat Hull City Council.

"In supporting these absurd pay rises he is clearly completely out of touch with the people of Goole and hard working families.

"It is only the Labour elected representatives in Goole on East Riding Council which is standing up against this - Mr Percy should be piling pressure on his Conservative colleagues and standing up against these immoral pay rises rather than taking cheap political shots at us."