If the arrest of the Tory Front Bench spokesman required 9 anti-terrorism policeman and three separate raids it begs a number of questions about what it is exactly that our security forces are concentrating upon. But more significantly, if there was a need for such heavy handed policing, was there some imperative or urgent threat that forced the police to operate in such a way? Of course there wasn't. How do I know? He's been bailed to appear in February!
I have to admit that I've not been following the current disaster that is Aberdeen City Council too closely. I'm unaware of how precisely they got themselves into their current plight but I do know that they are currently trying to cutback expenditure by £27 million and that many people seem to object to the goings on - their anger is directed at both councillors, recently the Chief Executive of the council stood down. Having seen the former Chief Executive interviewed on the TV I cannot say he's been very impressive.
Today the leader of the Lib Dem/SNP coalition Kate Deans appeared on the television and talked of the collective responsibility of ALL councillors for the current mess. She said "I think every councillor in Aberdeen is responsible for the situation that we're in now. The team that I lead are not only accepting the responsibility but are wishing to stay in place to see this through." Now forgive me for saying this but surely the Lib Dem/SNP is responsible for the mess that the council finds itself in, not every councillor. Since when are those in opposition suddenly responsible for such things? Having seen Ms Deans on the TV I have to say I'm not surprised there's a problem. If that's the best that Aberdeen can throw up as a council leader then clearly there's little wonder there's a problem.
According to an email from the Adam Smith Institute with an update on their blog this is the latest piece of complete nonsense to rear its little ugly head under the 'we need to insure everything' culture.
West Monkton Parish Council wants its allotment holders to each take out £5m insurance cover in case a visitor has an accident on their patch of soil. At £375 a year, that will cost them nearly 40 times what they pay in rent.
UPDATE
See the comments section. It appears you can make it up!
According to the Scotsman. “The Nationalist wind of change which swept Alex Salmond into power at Holyrood (they meant Numptorium - Ed)was last night blowing through council chambers all over Scotland. After a day of council meetings across the country, by last night it emerged that the Scottish National Party is now in a position of power in 11 out of the 20 councils that have established ruling administrations.”
This is interesting as in local councils the paid officials are fearful, in many cases, of what the SNP plans to do with them. They are not very keen on local councils at the SNP's national level. Fears over the possible merging of areas, like those happening with planning in 'the Edinburgh City Region' are uppermost in local council's minds.
It's interesting that the SNP like the idea of independence but don't like the idea of local control quite so much
The senior council official who recently got £130,000 in redundancy just months before he could have retired has said the "maniac who ran amok at that college in America, murdering 33 people, never got treated like I did". Comparing himself to the Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui seems a tad excessive. Many have felt a large amount of upset at the whole affair, and much of that criticism also seems to have been levelled at East Lothian Council. He was 59 when this happened and at 60 he was entitled to £55,000 a year pension and a lump-sum payment of £155,000
This kind of thing is not unusual but increasingly people whose pensions have been hit, people who are not in government supported pension schemes, or any pension schemes, and just those sickened by people who seem to disproportionately benefit from 'the system' are getting increasingly upset. I suspect over the next few years situations like this will continue to get exposure as the gap between those on gravy train pensions and those who are not widens. To make matters worse the council official now says he doesn't want his job back. I think that the outcry was as much about his 'normal' pension as it was the £130,000 redundancy.
UPDATE
For him it just did. He's been forced to resign without the £130K. His stupid remarks have cost him dearly.
