The utter mayhem at council meetings at one town council in Shropshire has prompted the Standards Board for England to order the members of Whitchurch Town Council to attend behavioural training. Such was the pandemonium at this wayward authority that the watchdog has received 35 complaints in less than... Read more...
One of the most worrying things I came across in my investigation into Britain's quango state - UnseenGovernment -was the noticeable decline in Cabinet Office time given over to monitoring quasi-government. This was surprising, as being thegate keepers of government one might assume this to be one of their primary... Read more...
Fraser Nelson gives a clear, informed argument in favour of liberalising UK education, encouraging David Cameron not to miss this opportunity to revive Britain's ailing school system ... Read More Read more...
City council bosses in Birmingham have announced plans for four more Red Routes despite the furore over the Stratford Road route with businesses up-in-arms as trade fell due to the ‘no stopping’ policy (Birmingham Mail). The four new routes; Alcester Road, Warwick Road, Dudley Road and the Hagley Road... Read more...
Boris Johnson’s Mayoralty gave a thumbs up to London's taxpayers as it’s emerged that he’s sacked the first tranche of politically correct non-jobbers in City Hall. Gone already are the 40 copies of the Morning Star City Hall bought every single day. Now out of the door are the non-jobbers... Read more...
The right of British people to protection comes below that of a foreign national to not be deported to their country of origin. Abu Qatada preaches hate against the west and this our country. However, the very freedoms he preaches against now protect him from deportation. Not considered is... Read more...
A TPA supporter emailed in this non-job today, which we’ll leave to your own interpretation from Bristol City Council: “Sex Work Strategy Co-ordinator£27,594 - £29,726 The Safer Bristol Partnership is responsible for developing and delivering the crime and drugs agenda in Bristol's diverse, multi-cultural urban environment. This new... Read more...
Yesterday the country looked on aghast as Abu Qatada was released from prison despite being Osama Bin Laden’s “right hand man in Europe”. I blogged a few weeks ago on how the government had its priorities wrong regarding prison sentences and justice policy. Yesterday’s justice-blackout epitomised the government’s approach to... Read more...
Having reviewed the papers for the ‘non-job of the week’ over the past year, more and more of these party-political, taxpayer-funded non-jobs are cropping up. Our local branches have been highlighting their growing presence in the council jobs pages and, I’m sure you’ll agree, taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for partisan,... Read more...
Further to my post on Friday, the leaders of EU member states - including our own - have been lining up to discuss how to ignore the Irish referendum result rejecting the EU Constitution Lisbon Treaty. I'm pleased to see, therefore, that EUReferendum's Richard North and Open Europe's Neil O'Brien... Read more...
The Independent on Sunday reports that David Cameron is to propose greater use of wave power: "Mr Cameron will say: "Britain's coastline is over 1,000 miles long and has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. Tapping into this free, continually renewed energy source could, according to some... Read more...
The twin aims of increasing state surveillance and using such technology to increase taxes have taken a bit of a beating in recent days - good news for taxpayers, who would have had to foot the bill for Government's incompetent implementation of the technology and cough up for the higher... Read more...
Yesterday I took part in a BBC World Service programme to discuss aid to Africa. Read more...
Today’s The Sentinel newspaper reports that workers from Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council will be treated to a free breakfast, plus numerous other taxpayer funded treats on Wednesday next week as part of continuing initiatives to make them greener and healthier. The article states that: “Employees... Read more...
Britain’s policy of ‘liberal interventionism over the past decade has asked a lot of our Armed forces. One would expect that a government intent on using their Armed Forces, would also be one that appreciated the necessity of investment and considered governance. This has not been the case however. Much... Read more...
A very interesting piece in yesterday's Observer reported on a damning indictment of the civil service, from one of their own. Firstly, the credentials of the critic: the Observer report states that Zenna Atkins, 42, was holder of the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2000, appointed to the... Read more...
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, is to call for an end to the "one size fits all" approach to education. In a forthcoming speech, Mr Clegg will make the case for a dramatic change in the UK's approach to schooling, outlining plans... Read more...
Araucaria araucana: a clear and present danger As explained by Thomas Hobbes more than three centuries ago, we have to put up with government so it can keep us safe. That's the deal. Which of course is why government arranges for Torquay's highly dangerous palm trees to... Read more...
With only one constituency left to declare, and only nine having voted "yes" (and one of those only doing so by 6 votes) it seems the Irish electorate have voted solidly to reject the EU Constitution Lisbon Treaty. It is imperative, not only for democracy but also for any sense... Read more...
Flying in the face of their already questionable claim to “an enviable reputation for forward-thinking and fiscal discipline”, Birmingham City Council have made the front page of today’s Birmingham Post due to the fact that they are currently advertising for seven (yes seven!) ‘Assistant Directors of Finance’. Read more...
The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act has been one of the greatest innovations in British political history in the way it has opened up Government to the public, allowing us to see a great deal of what is done with our money behind closed doors. It's not perfect, it's not... Read more...
In yet another call for lower taxes from a Labour politician, Alan Milburn told a charity conference in London that the Government must shrink the size of the state and called for measures to improve social mobility, including "cutting taxes for the low paid." He said: "The old top down... Read more...
The Times reports that successful schools are going to be given the right to expand a little. This will mean more places in successful schools and a bit more pressure on poor performing schools to up their game. Unfortunately, schools have only been allowed an extremely limited amount of new... Read more...
An interesting piece by Rupert Darwall in today's Wall Street Journal explains how tax has once again become political centre-stage... "The first signs of a taxpayer revolt came last October. With Mr. Brown poised to call an election to capitalize on his momentum in the polls, the Conservatives announced they... Read more...