The leader of the Lib Dem group on Wiltshire Council has labelled as irresponsible and unconsidered the demands made by independent councillors for an extraordinary meeting of Wiltshire Council to be held to discuss councillors' allowances.

The demand has seen five independent councillors write to council chairman Christine Crisp calling for the meeting.

But speaking about the special meeting, Cllr Jon Hubbard said: "This is an example of all that is bad about politicians. Yes, most reasonable people think the decision made by Wiltshire Council about councillor's allowances was inappropriate, myself included.

"Indeed, so angry were some that a countywide petition has been started and appears to be getting considerable support.

"It was for this reason that I had already approached the leader of the council (Jane Scott) and requested her support for allowing a debate on the petition when it was presented to council.

"After we had discussed the matter and I had made my case I was delighted that the leader agreed to support a short debate on this. This is grown-up politics. Not throwing your toys out of the cot and demanding an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, costing tens of thousands of pounds of public money, just weeks before there is due to be a meeting anyhow."