I WAS not surprised to read your article of April 9 reporting that Mr Meltzer had accused the council of ushering in a new expenses regime in an attempt to cover up the unlawful spending that has gone on in the past.
For many years, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Merrick Cockell, has lived the high life on taxpayers' money, with first-class trips to New York, San Francisco and Boston, staying at five-star hotels and indulging in expense account entertainment.
Much of this he failed to declare in his annual declaration of member's expenses. This was only found out after Freedom of Information Act requests were made to the council - the same approach that unearthed the MPs' expenses scandal.
At the end of a busy council meeting on March 3, the councillors unanimously voted in a new expenses regime. A number of Labour and Conservative councillors have told me that the details of the scheme were only circulated after the vote, and they had no idea what they were voting for.
They were shocked when they realised that, among other things, they had awarded themselves the right to travel first class by train and business class by plane, all in the same week that army generals and air force chiefs were ordered to travel second class in order to save public funds.
It is beyond belief to think 52 Conservative, Labour and Liberal politicians are unanimously out of touch with public opinion and the dire state of the economy.
The unfortunate fact is that K&C councillors have been 'bounced' by the leader. They have been duped, all in the name of an administrative smokescreen to cover past expenses abuse.
The First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos - who famously collected 2,000 pairs of shoes using public funds - was for many years the best thing since sliced bread, until she and the president were found out.
The people took to the streets and booted them out. It's time for this in Kensington and Chelsea too.
DONALD CAMERON by email
