Post by Dave on Apr 3, 2009 20:23:45 GMT
I must confess I no very little about politics and not really sure I want to as such, I can't say I belong to anyone party, but while growing up in Newton Abbot, I do remember most of my family seemed to be Liberals.
When I have voted my vote only went to the man or lady who were promising the things I believed in, or be going to make the changes I felt were needed. What I do know is it has only ever been words and words that have never been backed up by real action.
I voted for an elected mayor in the Bay, because I believed I was voting for real change and the things that needed to happen would, the only change we got was one for the worse.
This post has only come about after reading a letter in the paper tonight, one made by a person who is a a member on this forum, I hope she does not mind as I will add it to the end of this post.
Its funny reading on here today about protests in London etc, I have never been on one, but I do feel that might change one day as there are some things I feel are so wrong in this country.
One thing that has got me mad of late, is all these MP's claiming the expenses that they do, some are clearly bending the rules, but even those who are not, are really milking the system and getting expenses for nearly everything.
People like you and me will have to work many years to even come close to what some MPs get in expenses in just one year. Yet they work even harder to take as much out of our pockets as they can, while they seem to just get richer.
For what my views are worth, I think we need a whole new system to run this country, proper proved business people who will run things the way most profitable companies are run.
Here in Torbay I was shocked to read what some of our councilors took out of the local purse in expenses, that Mr Carroll sure did very well for himself and in my view he is the rudest and waste of space we have on the council and I'll not be sorry to see him go.
There was a time when those who stood for the local council, did so because they really wanted to make things happen, gave their time for free and were not looking to take all they could.There are still some who left, not that many I'm afraid, but it does seem after reading the letter in the paper that there is one and we sure need a few more.
The letter in the HE
I SIMPLY cannot allow Paul Ward's letter (HE, March 31 2009) to go unchallenged.
No, Mr Ward, your assertion that 'these people who stand for … councillor … are all in it for one reason only and that is to claim as much as you can in expenses and to hell with the job' is wrong, offensive and quite clearly shows you to be an ignorant person.
Perhaps I might start by giving Mr Ward a quick background briefing on allowances as they relate to local councillors? The basic allowance is intended to recognise the time commitment of all councillors, is paid to all councillors, and is set by a local, independent remuneration panel. In addition, special responsibility allowances are payable, where applicable. Further, travel and subsistence expenses are payable, as are childcare and dependant carers' allowance.
These expenses are all perfectly allowable, and councillors may or may not choose to submit claims to cover them. I am certain that there are some Torbay councillors who do and some who don't. I write as a net contributor to the outgoings of a current Torbay councillor in the latter group.
My husband, Cllr Julien Parrott, does not claim expenses from Torbay Council in the commission of his council responsibilities which, in effect, means that I help pay for the telephone, stationery, postage, travel and other costs incurred, as well as being an unpaid, unrecognised assistant, on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Of course, this is not an issue for either of us: he stood as a councillor because he wants to try and make a difference locally; I help (financially and otherwise) because I support this and because I, too, find it rewarding, especially at ward level.
Yes, Mr Ward, I am sure that both nationally and locally, there are public servants who abuse the system, but please do not judge everyone by their — and what also seems to be your own — standards.
SUE POWELL
Torquay
When I have voted my vote only went to the man or lady who were promising the things I believed in, or be going to make the changes I felt were needed. What I do know is it has only ever been words and words that have never been backed up by real action.
I voted for an elected mayor in the Bay, because I believed I was voting for real change and the things that needed to happen would, the only change we got was one for the worse.
This post has only come about after reading a letter in the paper tonight, one made by a person who is a a member on this forum, I hope she does not mind as I will add it to the end of this post.
Its funny reading on here today about protests in London etc, I have never been on one, but I do feel that might change one day as there are some things I feel are so wrong in this country.
One thing that has got me mad of late, is all these MP's claiming the expenses that they do, some are clearly bending the rules, but even those who are not, are really milking the system and getting expenses for nearly everything.
People like you and me will have to work many years to even come close to what some MPs get in expenses in just one year. Yet they work even harder to take as much out of our pockets as they can, while they seem to just get richer.
For what my views are worth, I think we need a whole new system to run this country, proper proved business people who will run things the way most profitable companies are run.
Here in Torbay I was shocked to read what some of our councilors took out of the local purse in expenses, that Mr Carroll sure did very well for himself and in my view he is the rudest and waste of space we have on the council and I'll not be sorry to see him go.
There was a time when those who stood for the local council, did so because they really wanted to make things happen, gave their time for free and were not looking to take all they could.There are still some who left, not that many I'm afraid, but it does seem after reading the letter in the paper that there is one and we sure need a few more.
The letter in the HE
I SIMPLY cannot allow Paul Ward's letter (HE, March 31 2009) to go unchallenged.
No, Mr Ward, your assertion that 'these people who stand for … councillor … are all in it for one reason only and that is to claim as much as you can in expenses and to hell with the job' is wrong, offensive and quite clearly shows you to be an ignorant person.
Perhaps I might start by giving Mr Ward a quick background briefing on allowances as they relate to local councillors? The basic allowance is intended to recognise the time commitment of all councillors, is paid to all councillors, and is set by a local, independent remuneration panel. In addition, special responsibility allowances are payable, where applicable. Further, travel and subsistence expenses are payable, as are childcare and dependant carers' allowance.
These expenses are all perfectly allowable, and councillors may or may not choose to submit claims to cover them. I am certain that there are some Torbay councillors who do and some who don't. I write as a net contributor to the outgoings of a current Torbay councillor in the latter group.
My husband, Cllr Julien Parrott, does not claim expenses from Torbay Council in the commission of his council responsibilities which, in effect, means that I help pay for the telephone, stationery, postage, travel and other costs incurred, as well as being an unpaid, unrecognised assistant, on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Of course, this is not an issue for either of us: he stood as a councillor because he wants to try and make a difference locally; I help (financially and otherwise) because I support this and because I, too, find it rewarding, especially at ward level.
Yes, Mr Ward, I am sure that both nationally and locally, there are public servants who abuse the system, but please do not judge everyone by their — and what also seems to be your own — standards.
SUE POWELL
Torquay