Tories will name council big earners

Town hall workers earning more than £58,500 would be publicly named with details of their salary if the Tories win power.

David Cameron announced the move as part of a huge cost-cutting drive across local government.

Councils would also have to publish online a list of all expenditure over £500. Critics are likely to warn this will create more bureaucracy.

But the Tories stressed that Windsor and Maidenhead council already does it for items over £500, as does London Mayor Boris Johnson for spending of more than £1,000.

They believe the greater transparency in local government expenditure will save millions of pounds.

Shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman said: "By giving the public full access to the books, we will create a new army of armchair auditors, vetting town hall spending, pay and expenses."

Nearly 500 local authority employees in London were paid more than £100,000 in 2008/09.