Pressure is mounting on a Blackpool Conservative Party councillor to resign following revelations he received more than £7,000 in allowances for attending only two meetings in the past year. Michael Jebson claimed a total of £7,234.76 in the financial year 2008-09. Of this, £5,803.56 were basic allowance payments – 15 per cent more than the previous year’s basic allowance.
His opponents say he has never been to a full council meeting, and that he should fulfil his duties or resign. “He has received more than £3,500 for attending two meetings,” Labour councillor David Owen told the Blackpool Gazette. “This is obviously an incredible waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The scandal will come as a particular embarrassment to Conservative leader David Cameron, who a fortnight ago made a speech pledging to “take an axe to the many arms of government,” clamp down on expense cheats and bring down the cost of politics before declaring “local government is officially the most efficient part of the public sector.”
Cllr Jebson’s fate is expected to be decided at a meeting of the council tomorrow night. Whether or not he turns up to defend himself is anyone’s guess.
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6 Responses to “Tory councillor claimed over £7,000 to attend two meetings”
Shamik Das
RT @leftfootfwd: Tory councillor claimed £7,000 to for attending only two meetings http://bit.ly/2vqeLq
labourmatters
Cutting the cost of government? RT @leftfootfwd Tory councillor claimed £7,000 for attending only two meetings http://bit.ly/2vqeLq
matthew bond
RT @shamikdasRT @leftfootfwd: Tory councillor claimed £7,000 to for attending only two meetings http://bit.ly/2vqeLq T+T:DCs mortgage stinks
Rory
This is obviously a newsworthy story and a prime example of public greed.
I also accept that Conservative Party policies are most likely to fall within this website’s firing line given its ‘progressive’ orientation.
But I do question whether it is as likely to seek out and expose examples of public greed when they come from left-wing parties.
Hammer & Bicycle
Bad day for the Tories Pt2 "Tory councillor claimed over £7,000 to attend two meetings" Egg on Cameron’s face > http://is.gd/3D2Ql