Turkeys vote for Martin (2)

Today’s Independent is reporting that in an attempt to diffuse public criticism of MP’s exorbitant expenses claims, auditors may be given powers to instigate spot checks. As claims have to be audited every year anyway, I fail to see what these additional checks will reveal: all they will do is give MP’s more time to set their stall in order before final returns are rubber stamped!

With Conway highlighting some of the more contentious elements of our representatives pay schemes, newspapers have been very busy probing MP’s claims. It has emerged that Ann and Sir Nicholas Winerton claim £30000 per year for their London flat, even though they paid the mortgage off six years ago. Peter Hain, who had to resign recently due to financial irregularities in his deputy leadership campaign, also employs his 80 year old mother as a part time aid.

Calls have been made for MP’s staff to be either paid directly from a central fund, or directly from MP’s salaries which would be topped up accordingly to compensate. This would see a rise from roughly £60,000 per year to £80,000. The latter idea worries me: how many MP’s would take the opportunity of ditching their secretaries etc and try and do the work themselves, thereby reducing their effectiveness in representing our concerns?

Tinkering with MP’s expenses guidelines will not solve the problem of gross payments which are made under dubious guidelines. Reform needs to be across the board and independently arrived at.

Turkeys, Christmas?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/auditors-to-carry-out-spot-checks-on-mps-allowances-777680.html

Potts and Shams

Poor old Councillor David Potts has been a very busy man this week. Not content with sending children in care in the Borough to boarding schools, he seconded the motion of support for council leader Paul WAGGGOTTT at this week’s Council meeting. He then proceeded to heap and laud his opposite number with praise after praise.

Today however, he was away from the influence and orders of his Labour adversaries, and like a chameleon he was once again true blue! The BBC’s local edition of the “Politics Show” carried an item about primary school closures in the Borough. Who should be in the studio attacking South Tyneside Labour policy but…… Councillor David Potts, describing the ruling political party’s attitude as “a complete sham”.

Clearly Pott’s is making a name for himself as an “educational” spokesman, possibly in preparation for his election as an MP (when he is given his safe seat for taking on the Badger). Why then, did he not take the opportunity to attack Labour’s policy in full view of the council Chamber when he had the opportunity? There could have been no better time to say “I am sorry Councillor WAGGGOTTT, but you don’t have my support because you want to close these schools for good”. But he didn’t. Something amiss there surely.

Anyway, the matter of the primary school closures will be looked at by full Council in the next two weeks, and his involvement will also be looked at in great detail. This is when Councillor Potts will finally have to make his mind up which side of the local political fence he wants to cock his leg over. Its all well and good to attack Labour under the glare of the camera’s, but will he have the guts to do it in the full glare of their scowls and influence?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7020000/newsid_7026700/7026721.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1

No change in Scotland

Out of 32 councils in Scotland, 24 have responded to a BBC survey and confirmed that new council tax bills in their areas will “definitely” or “almost definitely” stay the same for the forthcoming financial year. Contrast this to England, where I have not been able to find ONE council which will not be introducing an increase in this years new charges.

Voting on Scottish changes will take place near the end of February, roughly the same time as their English counter parts. No doubt we will then see a mass exodus to north of the border.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7223892.stm

That Was The Week That Was

Stench emanates from Town Hall

Family Feud

Kevin Keegan

Muppets

Stench emanates from Town Hall

The public across South Tyneside were today forced to wear due to wear masks due to the stench of undemocratic practises emanating from the Town Hall. Environmental Health Officers were called to the building after an odious pong was detected in the Council Chamber. The source of the smell was found to be offices occupied by the Head of Corporate Governance. A Council spokesman’s said:

“The source of this stench was found to originate from an old copy of the Constitution which appears to have been urinated on many times over the last couple of weeks. We have had it surgically removed, and will replace it with a less democratic version as soon as we can”.

Family Feud

Local “Mafia” bosses were today reported to be locked in a political battle for the control of the Borough. Don WAGGGOTTTO, head enforcer for the Labourarty Family and viewed by many as head of gang activity in the area, has faced a series of challenges to his role over the last few weeks. He has also had to face the stark truth that one of his “family” members has been leaking papers to the FBI. Favourite to take over from the Don is “El McAtominio”, a man well placed within the ruling “Cabinet”. Either way, Inspector McBribe is bracing himself for a bloody takeover battle which will come to a head sometime in May this year.

Other favourites to take over the family business include Don Estelle, Don Attelo and Don Wood.

Dennis the Menace

Thanks for the email John!

Muppets

Number Crunching Fat Cat Style

On Friday (it slipped under the radar) the Daily Mail outlined how over 7 Olympic fat cat bosses were being paid over £200,000 a year to plan the Games. Bearing in mind the PM only gets £188,000 per year, these fellows are fleecing the public purse well and truly.

Follow the link below, these wages defy reason.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=511562&in_page_id=1770

And in the Red Corner………

Poor old Ken Livingstone, a man elected on a wave of optimism as the first mayor of London, but who will in all probability depart office tarnished and brow beaten. Allegations have now been made that he used public servants to write articles in support of his 2004 re election campaign, directly in breach of rules forbidding political abuse of taxpayers money.

This new controversy threatens to mar what is already a, well, controversial reign. Here’s his charge sheet to date:

— The Electoral Commission will today be asked to investigate claims that City Hall staff funded by the taxpayer wrongly undertook campaign work in 2004

— If the watchdog orders a full investigation it will join a lengthening queue of probes into the Mayor of London and his adminstration

— The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they were investigating allegations over missing funds given by the London Development Agency to Brixton Base

— MPs have also submitted a complaint to the Audit Commission over allegations that the LDA misused public funds and one Labour MP, Kate Hoey, has written to Gordon Brown expressing her concerns over Mr Livingstone

—The Mayor of London was last week forced to give his full backing to Lee Jasper, his senior aide following the resignation of Mr Jasper's deputy after being caught lying about a free foreign holiday Source: Francis Elliott

Never one to duck a challenge, Ken is starting to look like a flabby boxer at the end of his career. The knock out blow may just be round the corner……

Dearly beloved we are gathered here to witness the departure of……..

I purchased today’s Gazette at 8.47am, which is not bad going for an “afternoon” newspaper. Is this a record? I sincerely hope that nothing “breaks” in the news world after say, 9.08am, as it would be a shame for them to miss it.

Anyway, that’s not the point of this post; the Gazette has had a good week when it comes to the Borough’s political differences. Reporter David MacLean’s keyboard must be red hot such have been the ferocity of his ample (but excellent) coverage, and Editor John Szymanski’s leader comment on the boycott of the Council’s Friday meeting was one of the most insightful he has penned.

Today’s edition carries a report on yesterday’s reconvened Full Council meeting and EGM. Members of the public are pictured wearing masks as a protest at being gagged by Brian T Scott, the Council’s Solicitor, or as the public call him, Sweeney Scott, such is his butchery of motions and questions! These public masks could become Standard Council attire, such is the stench of the undemocratic behaviour emanating from the Town Hall.

As the EGM opened, there were no surprises. The first praise for Councillor WAGGGOTTT went like this;

“He’s brought about the stability of the Labour Group, which once fought like ferrets in a bag”.

The public, minus masks, peered over the ramparts of the gallery, passed the Superintendent and his bobbies helmet, to see who had been the first to fire the salvo for the “WAGGGOTTT Appreciation Society”. Was it Malcolm (not his first name)? Was it the Lords wife Lady Linda? Was it even one of the minnows like Sewell, Maxwell or Perry? Or indeed the usurper McAtominey?...... No, it was Councillor David Potts, Leader of the Conservative Party (Rock Paper Scissors) and opposition candidate in the next election for the constituency seat of Edinburgh South West. “Halleluiah!” said a member of the public “We now have political unity in the Borough. Cross the floor Councillor, and join your paymasters! It must be first class travel all the way!”

No matter, his comments merely opened the floodgates, and a sycophantic wave of religious praise washed over the chamber! It was cleansed!!!!!!!

Like a Billy Graham gathering, WAGGGOTTT was exorcised as the great unwashed looked on sombrely.

Rising from his throne, he acknowledged the worshippers at his feet. His thorn of crowns drew the blood of deep Red Labour! How they wept in appreciation of his Tedco sufferings! Reading from the Book of Constitution, WAGGGOTTT preached his sermon to the converted.

Page 19, Psalm 11, all pray:

“Praise be fore our leader WAGGGOTTT, for he came down from the hills of Fellgate and he did smite the Branleys, for they had challenged our Great Lord, but they did not turn up due to a great principle.

WAGGGOTTT, with his trusty disciple Scott by his side, he did also silence the Lunatics who had gathered in great number, all aligned under the banner of the false idol Ahmed in the Temple of Beacon and Bents. But Scott he had fiddled, and it was judged that it would Catch up on him 22.

For it is here that it is prophesied that a great battle will take place in the year of our WAGGGOTTT 2008.

When the forces of the Lord our Leader shall attempt to lay waste to those who think for themselves.

Rejoice! Cried Emperor WAGGGOTTT, for the great unwashed have been unmasked, and shall be forced to worship at the Temple Tavistock.

No! Cried the great unwashed, for we have sussed you out, and you are all blighted by corruption and over £50000 per year for the privilege”

Amen, Hail Linda and a couple of Shalom’s for good measure”.

As they all left to feast on the last supper, WAGGGOTTT shook all their hands in Mafiaesque fashion. The Don had survived his first assassination attempt, but the knives were out. As he waked away, he calmly looked at his pal(s)m

Yes they had shaken his hand, but they had left the black spot!

Turkeys vote for Martin

Writing in today’s Independent, Richard Ingram (former Private Eye Editor) raises the question of the need for reform when it comes to the cash perks in the House of Commons. However, Ingram’s is sceptical that any success in this area will be forthcoming. Why? Because any changes will have to cross the desk of the Common’s Speaker, Michael Martin MP. Could this be the same Michael Martin MP who has claimed huge sums from the public purse on top of his £137,000 salary, including nearly £50000 airfares for his wife when accompanying him on overseas trips, a few thousand for taxi fares to go shopping and finally a legal bill of £21,516 when somebody had the audacity to question why his wife was exempt from security checks when she entered the Commons.

On a scale of 0 – 10, the chances of financial reform of the Commons expenses system is ………………0.

There will be no change until the control of allowances, salaries and rewards is completely freed of any political or MP’s interference. However, that would require the approval of all parties, and as we know, turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.

And on the starting pistol we have.....

The race is on between Brown, Cameron and Clegg to see who can be the fist to cross the line in the “lets clean up politics” race. With Derek Conway firing the starting pistol this week, all 3 leaders were out the blocks together with the demand that their respective MP’s clean up their acts, reveal family members who are on the payroll and have it all sorted by……. 1st April 2008. In other words, you can run round the track long enough to get the drugs out of your system, and then take your blood test to prove your squeaky clean.

If our political leaders had any support for political openness when it came to the financial gravy train that chugs through the House of Commons, they would have demanded that their Party MP’s publicly reveal the information by Monday this week, 9 am at the latest, no excuses – you get the idea of how quick the deadline could have been imposed don’t you! The reason they haven’t is that they are fully aware that Conway may not have been an isolated case; at least 47 MP’s across the board employ family members. I wonder how many are actually legitimately doing any work?

Council Unmasked!

By all accounts today’s EGM and Full Council (reconvened) meeting was a sombre affair though the sycophants had a particularly good day when it came to lauding epitaphs on Council Leader Paul WAGGGOTTT. Apparently Councillor Pott’s homage to the Labour hierarchy was particularly well soaked in treacle. Not bad for a Party who claim to be the “opposition”. Why he doesn’t up sticks and cross the floor with the Liberal Democrats is beyond me – perhaps politically he already has!

A more detailed report will follow, once all the reports of the meeting have been gathered. I do however notice that the Gazette carried another page of relevant letters on the subject, with the Independent perspective dominating.

The papers web site question also showed a majority in favour of the Alliance’s actions. Finally, after years of baron opposition, we finally have a coherent body that have the ability and the public support to challenge the Labour opposition. Shame the Liberals and the Tories don’t want to be involved!

What a bunch of sycophants!

The Vote

“Peter The Question in tonights Gazette. Are councillors Right to boycot a meeting they Called? Yes or No ? With way will you vote.The Reason Im asking you this is, Because the result at the minute is 62% No And 38% yes... Odd.”

And

“Peter, How did you vote?”

The above posts were lodged last night and today. They relate to the poll conducted by The Gazette, which produced the following results:

“Were council members right to boycott a meeting that they called.
The result was 53% YES 47% NO”

So what are the ramifications?

Firstly, the Labour controlling group have panicked, and used a three line whip to get all its Councillors and supporters in the borough to vote “No”. This is entirely probable and will always account for a certain percentage of the negative. However, it assumes they can hit the buttons on the key board in the right order, so other explanations are needed.

Secondly then, we have an element who plainly just don’t agree with those who wish to hold the council to account. Separate from the politically motivated element above, they don’t like the publicity and want to return to the status quo.

The third and final element , and in my view, the defining influence on the result, is that the public want the Independent Alliance of Councillors in the Chamber to attack, hold to account and challenge the Labour cohort at EVERY OPPORTUNITY . In reality, they have a very valid point – they are fully aware that the Liberal Democrats and Conservative Councillors are politically inept and offer no resistance to the Labour hegemony. For them, the Independents represent the only source of opposition in the Borough, and they want them there at all times.

Today’s actions are essential, a response to a dictatorial executive who have ditched all pretences of observing a democratic procedure in an effort to stifle debate and opposition. However, the battle lines are clearly drawn.

It is February’s full Council meeting when the battle really begins!