Write-Place

Dear Mr Barron and anyone concerned with democracy.... I have forwarded to you an open letter sent by Mr Don Buxton (with his permission) in response to the appalling attitude of one of your "colleagues" Mr Iain St John. Perhaps you may have seen this letter, of Mr St John's but it is unlikely as you do not use email, despite your super, up to the minute equipment. However, let's not go over old ground again. The reason for this mail is to bring to your attention the utter contempt that many of those connected to RMBC show to their constituents. I am sure that you already know this but a small reminder never goes amiss, I believe. Perhaps, like Mr St John, you may also wonder why you have been sent this "nonsense" as he describes it. Well, just to reiterate that if any cllr/or MP classes the views of the public whom they represent as nonsense, just because their views differ from the "elite" then we are in a very sorry position. From past experie...

Documents and receipts relating to MPs' allowances are published today on the parliament website. www.parliament.co.uk From today the public will be able to view printed documents and receipts relating to MPs’ claims dating back to 2004/05 and up to 2007/08. The expenses claims of every MP for the past four years have been published, but, ironically with some key details not shown. The Commons authorities have published the details after the long-running Freedom of Information battle. Addresses and correspondence that claims relate to have been removed for privacy and security reasons. This means it is not possible to see if MPs "flipped" second homes which is a main part of the Daily Telegraph's revelations from its leaked version of the data. This news comes on the same day that Kitty Ussher, a Treasury minister, has been forced to resign after avoiding paying up to £17,000 in tax on the sale of her constituency home. Another case of "acting within the rules...

In an earlier blog I have commented that the Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP has refused to answer my questions about politics as "it will go on the blog". Some of us have discussed the possibilities of which blog this could be and want to ensure that Kevin gets to know all the questions that his constituents want answering and also give an opportunity for him to reply direct (in the absence of his own website) This blogger http://rothervalley.wordpress.com has asked a direct question to Mr Barron and I have posted the blog below. Keep going to the site in the off chance that Kevin may reply some time in the none too distant future. Mr Barron ... I also would welcome a reply on this blog , if it happens to be the one that you read. Hi Kevin I know you read this blog – the letter you wrote telling me about it is one of my most prized possesions. I also know that you said you weren’t going to write to me anymore because I have published your comments on this blog. What I didn’t know is...

Sir Alan Sugar, “businessman and TV personality” has been offered the position of Enterprise Champion a position in the UK government responsible for advising the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and promoting entrepeneurship. I say “offered” the position , as in an interview with him this morning, Sir Alan appears a little confused as to why the government has given him this title and exactly what the title infers. He says that the role is totally non political and that he is intending to do what he does best, which is encourage and promote business and training and this title gives him the opportunity to spread this work further afield. All good stuff, except … the role of Enterprise Champion carries with it a Labour peerage. The future Lord Alan Sugar, can’t say what would happen if the Government became Conservative led, as he does not know enough about David Cameron to back the party. Yet he has been a personal friend of Gordon Brown, he says, for at least 10 y...