The deputy leader of Richmond Council has claimed that the leader of the opposition “does not give a damn” about Richmond residents, after an argument on introducing the London living wage.

Deputy leade, Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, said leader of the opposition Councillor Stephen Knight was more interested in protecting workers in the borough than those who live here.

The long-standing argument has been over whether those contracted for the council are paid the London living wage.

Cleaners working for Wettons, which is contracted to the council, do not receive this wage.

Coun Knight said it should be mandatory across all London boroughs, which is a view shared by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

Coun Samuel said if all their contracted staff were paid the London living wage the council would have to find between £2.7m to £5.5m of extra funding.

Coun Samuel said: “The Liberal Democrats are taking the line all of these poor people that are not paid enough without giving a damn about our own residents who have to pay for it. I have hundreds of people in my ward that they don’t give a damn about.

“I feel angered beyond words that there’s not one mention of our residents in this.”

A call from the Lib Dems to reconsider introducing the £8.55 an hour London living wage was refused by the council, after it renewed its cleaning contracts without lifting wages from minimum of £6.31 an hour.

Coun Knight, leader of the opposition, said: “It is time we ended poverty wages for staff delivering council services such as cleaners and care workers whether they are employed via a contractor or directly by the council.

“I’m sure that most residents would be horrified to think that the council is trying to save money through exploitative poverty wages in one of the richest boroughs in London.”

Hess Moontasir, 46, from Twickenham said: “I work in education and it is noticeable that families are struggling.

"More needs to be done to help those in need whether it is higher taxes or more services. I would support them being paid the London living wage.

"Twickenham and Richmond are more affluent but there are pockets of disadvantaged areas and that disadvantages everyone.”