Britannia Radio

TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 15th August 2008

 

Welsh Assembly Members' expenses revealed

This week the full breakdown of expenses for Welsh Assembly Members was published for the first time.  Some examples were £2,000 claimed for a sofa, £1,000 for a TV and £2 for a glass bowl.  Eight AMs claimed the maximum £12,500 available for second home expenses. 

It just shows the gravy train doesn’t only stop at Westminster, with politicians in the devolved Assembly cashing in as well.  You can find the allowances AMs are entitled to here.

This report acts as yet another argument for transparent government.  The Scottish Parliament already details the expenses of each MSP, which has led to lower expense claims.  This is something we’re campaigning to see replicated in the rest of the country so that taxpayers can see where their money gets spent by politicians and can hold them to account when money is wasted.

 

Good news on crime mapping

The Metropolitan Police are now producing crime maps providing a detailed picture of crime rates across the capital.  The maps can be accessed on this website.  They could still be more detailed, showing different types of crime for example, but this gives local people a lot more information so that they can hold the police to account.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance made the case for crime mapping in these two recent reports, as well as in comments to the media and on our blog:

The Cost of Crime
The Cost of Crime in London

The next step we will be campaigning for is to put in place direct democratic control over police forces.  That, combined with crime mapping across the country, would allow informed local people to make sure the police respond to their priorities, rather than ineffective government targets.

 

Leaflets

 

Thank you to all our supporters and activists who have been out recruiting friends, family and colleagues to the TPA. Our grassroots campaign is booming, just what we need to further hold our elected politicians to account. If you'd like some recruitment leaflets and sign up forms to spread the message in your area, please email our Campaign Director Mark Wallace at mark.wallace@taxpayersalliance.com. Every new supporter we get adds even more power to our elbow and brings us closer to a Britain of lower taxes and better services.

 

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