OXFORDSHIRE County Council last year spent an estimated £125,938 on trade unions by paying employees carrying out union activity in company time, the Taxpayers’ Alliance has claimed.

The right wing pressure group, who made Freedom of Information requests to determine how many union representatives are paid through public funds, estimates County Hall paid £98,855 to UNISON officials, £16,250 to the NUT, and £10,833 to the NASUWT.

It also claims Oxford City Council paid an estimated £54,167 to UNISON and Unite representatives last financial year.

Figures are not published for other Oxfordshire councils.