Barnet Eye war on Spongers and parasites : Daily Express says warden cuts pay for allowance rises

It seems like we've started quite a bandwagon rolling here in Barnet. We welcome the Daily Express on board the war on spongers and parasites. They gave the whole of page 12 over to the cause today - http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/187698 -  The best bit of the article was this statement -

The council has also done away with full-time wardens at old people’s homes, instigating instead a system of roving wardens who cover the whole borough. Councillors defended the scheme by promoting it as pioneering and an efficient use of money.

But now it seems some of the money saved will simply be disappearing into councillors’ pockets instead. It is extraordinary that at a time of severe financial constraint a council which promotes itself as a super-efficient flagship authority can be awarding itself pay increases.

The Express is right to highlight the moral bankruptcy of a regime which punishes the old and vulnerable, whilst lining their own pockets. It is a sign of the depths which the Barnet Tories have sunk, when the two most sympathetic papers, the Telegraph and the Express lambast them. David Cameron cannot ignore the issue any longer.

The Guardian has also joined in with the war - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davehillblog/2010/jul/19/london-barnet-conservative-councillors-allowances-rise-controversy - Dave Hill was one of the first to rally to the cause with a tweet last week. His more considered post today hits the nail on the head pretty well.

It is heartening to say that we had hits on the blog from both the Telegraph and the Express prior to their articles. I actually emailed Don't Call Me Dave on Friday to inform him of the hits and that the ball was rolling.

There is one feature of all of these articles and all of the comments they've attracted. A general disgust at the obscene level of troughing. I suspect that Brian Coleman is actually enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. He is gambling that David Cameron lacks the balls to do anything about it. Coleman  (reportedly) told a colleague that all of the bad press just increases his vote and makes him better known. I doubt it will have the same effect on colleagues who have marginal seats. I was informed Coleman was silenced in the months leading up to the Election. He was actually forbidden from canvasssing outside of Totteridge, according to informed sources.

There are some rather interesting letters being sent internally within the Conservative Party. Sadly I've been sworn to secrecy about the contents of these, but I suspect that Coleman & co may get a nasty shock some time soon. One thing which has heartened me is the fact that this awful display has united the people of Barnet. Life long Tories have privately emailed me. You would be amazed at some of the private correspondence I received.

There are a few emails I'd like to publish but can't. The Tory Councillor who voted for it "because it was recommended by a committee" is probably the best. Sadly if someone emails me in strictest confidence and has provided useful snippets in the past, I won't break their trust.  I am sorry to report that Councillor Graham Old hasn't responded to my request for the compelling reason he changed his mind and voted for the increase. I must therefore conclude that the reason is that he lacks moral fibre and can't justify it. I'm also sorry to report that Theresa Villiers has thus far refused to comment, lending weight to the rumour that she'd been lent on by Coleman and Hillan.

My message to all Barnet Councillors such as Graham Old. It isn't too late. Just call an emergency meeting and reverse the decision. Say you made a mistake and on reflection realised that the rise was inappropriate at the current time. That way the you'll kill the story. Sure us bloggers will crow, but you can say you have proven a willingness to listen and the story will die. As it stands it is likely to snowball and wash you away. Just remember what happened in Liverpool to the Labour vote after the Militant Tendency troughing was exposed?

You may think people have short memories. This isn't always the case, especially when the national press are involved. Oh yes, I'd like to remind Boris that whilst Coleman is his top crony at LFEPA, he's tarred with the same brush.