Whilst we're on the subject of Brian Coleman, just a quick note to say that in a mere ten days, it will be the 2nd anniversary of this blogs most famous post - The Brian Coleman Free Dinner Register -
http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2008/11/councillor-brian-coleman-free-dinner.html
Rather satisfyingly, the rest of the media has eventually caught up. This week ITV London Tonight raised the question of Brian's Free gifts and the Daily Mirror put Coleman on the front page (as documented by the Tory Troll blog). This blog was the very first to draw attention the Brian Coleman and his love of a free dinner. It was evident to us then and it is evident to us now that all of this sponging lays Colemans judgement open to question. One thing which is shocking is that at the time we drew attention to Colemans £85,000 a year wages for a succession of non jobs. This has risen to £114,000.
A more sensible politician than Coleman would have realised this shot across the bows would cause trouble. Sadly Coleman works in a different way. He went on from there to receive a £350 Harvey Nicks hamper from Assetco, who the LFEPA awarded a multi million contract to, to provide emergency cover in the event of a firemen strike. As he's now managed to engineer the strike, we have to wonder about the whole issue.
When I first found the "free dinner register" in 2008, I thought it stank. In light of what has transpired, I think it stinks even worse. You may be surprised to know Brian actually has two free dinner registers with lots of different entries - This one (the original GLA one)
http://www.london.gov.uk/pls/apex/f?p=135:2:4343884965763593:fsp_sort_2_desc::RP&fsp_region_id=10248804584908268
And there's this one for the Fire Authority
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/gh_brian_coleman.asp
I doubt that it is humanly possible to shame Brian Coleman to cut down on the sponging. In fact I suspect he takes great delight in it. Let's just hope Boris Johnson wises up and sees the damage it causes him
1 comment:
Rog: funnily enough, the long awaited Barnet version of an online register of councillors' interests etc has failed to materialise, despite the latest promises that it would at last be available before the end of last month.(It's been promised since January). We hear recently that shy and retiring councillors who don't want to be 'transparent' can opt out, in the Barnet way, but why the delay on the others? Do they have something to hide? I just can't imagine that could be true, can you?
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