Campaigners will stage a protest before a council meeting tonight to put pressure on Barnet Mayor Hugh Rayner to step down.

Barnet Alliance for Public Services will head to Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, to urge the Barnet Borough Council mayor to resign.

Councillor Rayner is currently under investigation by Barnet’s monitoring officer for a range of complaints relating to housing issues.

He has been accused of overcharging his tenants on housing benefit rents almost 55 per cent above market rate, and intimidating tenants by arriving late at night for contracts to be signed.

In a statement, BAPS said: “Whatever the legal outcome of the investigation, Cllr Rayner’s actions are clearly unethical.

“Given that many of these allegations have not been disputed, it is a scandal and an insult to the residents of Barnet that the council has not removed him as mayor – supposedly a position of honour – and suspended him.”

A Times Series investigation also revealed he failed to declare interests when voting on controversial housing policies in the council. In a recent poll, 86 per cent of Times Series readers also said Cllr Rayner should step down from his post.

Cllr Rayner has previously refused to comment.

The protest will begin at 6pm.