Expenses and 'Fat Cat' Salaries

Heard to complain: a friend of Michael Martin, speaker of the House of Commons in defence of the huge expense claim the speaker has made to cover his wife and housekeeper's shopping in London. So snobbery is still alive and kicking, his friend implicating that his wife should not be expected to use a bus and words to the effect that it was a lot of nonsense harassing men of such high standing. How they cry in having to account for their expenses. Now we see the other side of their character which all comes through. Thank heaven for the Freedom of Information act which the U.S. brought in as far back as 1966. No doubt many are keeping their fingers crossed that they wont be found out. Not so long ago our local MP Anthony Steen was complaining about lack of expenses allocated to MPs. I wonder what his thoughts are in learning that the Leader of Plymouth Council is paid more than he and almost as much as the PM! And if one complains, like I have often done about the Water Companies 'fat cats' a letter is sent out explaining high salaries are standard in order to get the high calibre executive. Really? Where are all those high calibre people when it comes to the chaos in London's Heathrow - how is it that Plymouth's housing stock is so dilapidated and why have the powers that be in Torbay made such a mess of the once cherished rock walk?

Sent to the Herald Express on 04/04/08 (as yet unpublished) by Peter Carroll, Two Acre Close, Paignton.