Calls are growing for a politician who engaged in a bizarre Donald Trump-style rant to resign after shouting aggressively in a public meeting in Letchworth last night.

An online petition calling on Councillor David Barnard to resign has been set up this morning after opposition grows against Conservative councillors from North Herts District Council voting themselves between 11 and 19 per cent pay rises last month.

Councillor Barnard – who claimed nearly £14,000 in special allowances and expenses from the district council for the tax year 2015/16, as well as a further basic allowance of £9,684 from Herts County Council for 2014/15 – stunned the audience at last night’s district council’s budget meeting in the historic Spirella Building.

Speaking to a shocked auditorium he shouted: “I will not return my pay rise.”

Martin Burke, member of the North Herts People’s Assembly, has launched the petition which said: “We call on Councillor Barnard to step down.

“Resign your position, public will demands it.”

Referring to the pay rise Mr Barnard voted himself, the petition stated: “Public sector workers within North Herts District Council are making do with a one per cent pay increase while he has voted for in excess of 10 per cent for himself.”

Mr Barnard has yet to respond.

You can sign Martin’s petition here