A noble resignation

Few people outside Islington will have heard of Cllr. Andrew Cornwell, the now former cabinet member for finance on Islington council.  But they should do, for here we have a councillor resigning his cabinet post because of a council’s “waste, inefficiency, spending on refreshments, conference venues, travel costs and consultants”.  Yes, that was a point of principle and to prove that some councillors aren’t just in it for the money, Cllr. Cornwell left his £35,075 salary when he resigned and now goes back to a basic allowance of £9,954.

Congratulations Cllr Cornwell, I say.  Here was a councillor who was trying to deliver value for money, yet saw his council leader jetting off to America for pointless seminars, lavish refreshments and endless waste.  But instead of keeping quiet, he’s sparked a debate in Islington, which you can see from the Islington Tribune’s letters page below.  Of note, also, is a letter from our very own Islington TPA branch organiser Tim Newark congratulating Cllr Cornwell.  Click to enlarge:

 

More recenetly, Cllr Cornwell has called for £100 to be cut off pensioners’ council tax bills by freezing councillor allowances and cutting spending on refreshments for councillors and consultants.  All good stuff to us at the TPA!

Normally we put councillor contact details on our blog for you to complain.  Not this time.  Give Cllr Cornwell some moral support by congratulating him on his stand for lower council tax!  You can contact him at: andrew.cornwell@islington.gov.uk

Comments

[F.Roseman]

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I wish to add my congratulations and best wishes to you on your principled resignation. There is comfort in knowing that there was at least one man of honour left in this morass of self-serving parasites masquerading under the title of "public servants".

Kind regards,

Frank Roseman

[Steve Robson]

What lovely comments to make about 5 million people you've never met Frank. Their only crime to try and serve the public and have the downright chhek to expect to get paid for it. You must be a lovely person.

[Andy]

Steve

Read the TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 27th November 2008 - "Public Sector Rich List 2008"

Or did it go over your head?

[Steve Robson]

No primary school standard projects don't go over my head actually, but I'm unlear of the relevance. Clearly these people are not rich compared to private sector people anyway, particularly when you exclude people in the quasi commercial sector. So I don't even thinks Frank's bitter invective is deserved by those people, but he didn't differentiate in any case. He implied that all public servants were self serving parasiteT, as the TPA generally does. The point is that just because Frank has failed and therefore hates the world, doesn't mean he has a right to condemn those who try to serve.

[Andy]

Sadly this still seems to have gone over your head. Please point out any mention of primary school projects in the "Public Sector Rich List 2008".

Sorry chum, but Tim Aker's article has nothing to do with ordinary public sector employees, but what Cornwell perceived as "waste, inefficiency, spending on refreshments, conference venues, travel costs and consultants on the council. It isn't about teachers or primary schools at all.

You have chosen to assume Frank's tirade was a generalization of 5 million or so public employess.

Where on earth did you get that notion?

This article was about waste and fat cats on £150K+.

I admit Frank has registered a keen dislike for these people and has used non-endearing terms to describe them, but there is nothing to suggest that this was levelled at ordinary civil servants. Your mind is playing tricks on you

I would recommend that you read, re-read and assimilate but I don't think you would 'get it' for some time yet as it would involve you taking a wider and less self-centred view.

[Andy]

"Frank has failed and therefore hates the world"

You know him? Again, where do you get these notions from?

Your version of what Frank allegedly posted and what pounce actually wrote are as far apart as John O'Groats and Land's End. Twisting others' words to suit yourself.

Nice to see David Ike still has a few friends. Unsubstantiated bonkers claims are always welcome.

[mark taha]

Reply to Steve Robson-private sector salaries aren't paid by the taxpayer.Public sector ones are.I believe in a pay and recruitment freeze for civil servants,traffic wardens,and local government officials;the only public sector employees who deserve a pay rise are the armed forces.Similarly, occupational pensions for civilian public employees should be ended;let them manage on the state pension and make their own arrangements if they want more,like the rest of us.

[Steve Robson]

If David Ike is still around, I suspect he's in the TPA.

ANDY, FRANK'S COMMENTS ARE NOT LINKED TO THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE SO CALLED RICH LIST. THEY RELATE TO THE NOBLE RESIGNATION ARTICLE ABOVE. HOW CAN EVEN A TPA SUPPORTER IGNORE THAT.

If everything is just based on lies, what is the point. I make a valid point. Frank has abused 5million public servants, you say, with no evidence, that he only meant the so called rich ones. READ THE STRING!!! AND THE ARTICLE ABOVE IT!!!

AT least Mark Taha is honest and says he only likes the army. I guess they'll be needed to keep order when civil society breaks down as a result of his ideas being implemented.

There are two types of TPA supporters. Those who run it whose clear goal is political power and reduced taxes for their friends, the real rich (see prominent supporters). They will lie and manipulate endlessly to achieve that goal. As an example, they criticise the Pre Budget Statement for not sharing the pain with the public sector, which is just an outright lie because the statement requires £35bn of public sector efficiency savings and it is very clear that the cost of this borrowing to get us out of this private sector caused recession will be met by cuts in public spending for years afterwards.

The other TPA supporters are those who aren't rich but fall for this manipulation and lie telling.

I know from what he wrote that Frank is in the latter which is why I think he's a bitter failure.

Which category are you in Andy, manipulator or manipulated.

If you think you're in neither category, at least admit that this thread is not about the rich list and that the Chancellor is making the public sector share (if not take all of) the pain of this failure of capitalism. These are two simple facts.

[mark taha]

How would cracking down on bureaucrats and jobsworths need to a breakdown in civil society?They'd just have to be more efficient.