Better government and a better deal for the taxpayer

I have been neglecting this blog of late. I have been very busy with Taxpayers' Alliance work and this has taken up all of my free time. It has been time very well spent though and the branch is starting to grow and we are getting some positive media hits.

These past few weeks have reinforced my opinion that the way we do government in this country is fundamentally wrong. I have received cooperation from the LibDem Leader of Hull City Council, Carl Minns, but unfortunately he is an exception to the rule. I wouldn't go as far as saying finding a council leader who is willing to be open is like finding a needle in a haystack, however, they are not in plentiful supply. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a local authority that needs to let the light into its proceedings. It has 48 out of a total of 67 councillors who claim a special responsibility allowance. I am starting to get to the bottom of this, but it has only been with the help of the local press. Transparency is needed and transparency we will get, no matter how long it takes.

There are too many people in public life who feel it is their God given right to spend public money in any way they see fit. They do their best to hide their spending from the public. They authorise expensive consultations, when a little common sense could solve a problem. They just don't seem to understand the money they spend is not their money, although I am sure they control their personal purse strings in a more conservative way, than they do the public purse.

In this time of recession, we have to tighten our belts. We will have to put up with higher taxes. All the Taxpayers' Alliance wants, is for the taxpayer to get the best deal possible. We want to cut out waste. We want public spending to be kept at a minimum. This is something - as a dyed-in-the-wool Tory - I believe passionately in. Join us in our campaign for transparency, lower taxes and better government.