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Saturday 14 August 2010

Getting Pickled, again …

You know, I’ll happily admit, I’m a complete tart when it comes to seeing me name in print.

But — much as I know Trevor, Movie Night Adrian and the rest of the gang will be making oh-so-amusing comments about that — I’ve ALSO got to admit that seeing the announcement from Eric ’The Elephant’ Pickles, MP, about his axing of the Audit Commission got me thinking …

He’s burbling about it on the BBC News channel, as I write.

Either way, it got me thinking that someone should send the Gazette a letter about it.

Oh, and the Times. And the Guardian. And the Observer. And the Mail, as well, just to be even handed …

Here’s what I sent them …

Dear Editor


I’ve got to admit, I’ve been following the news that our MP, Eric Pickles, has ordered the scrapping of England’s Audit Commission with a sense of alarm.


Now, I’ll happily admit to being no expert on these things.


It could well be that farming out audits and investigations of local and national government could well be done more cheaply at a local level, by private companies and not-for-profit groups.


What worries me, however, is whether these organisations are covered by the Freedom Of Information Act.


Given the noted arguments about Mr Pickles’ £7, 000 laptop, Brentwood Council’s own seeming inability to manage taxpayers money and the gerrymandering actions of a Conservative led Westminster Council the Audit Commission famously uncovered in the 1980s, I think I’d like to ask a question.


I’d like to ask if Mr Pickles — our MP, after all — is using the coalition governments austerity measures as an excuse. To lay groundwork for the coalition to be able to hide things.


A serious question, I know.


But one I think should be answered.


Ahem!!

At any rate, feel free to express your opinion as well, either by leaving a comment here.

Or by email to the relevant paper … !
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