Flagrant misuse of taxpayer’s money say Lib Dems!

Lib Dems in Rochdale have slammed the Labour Government for ‘hiding’ behind legislation and refusing to reveal how much a political visit by Justice Minister Jack Straw cost local tax payers. The visit held on 29 February was confirmed by the Ministry for Justice to be a ‘political visit’ and in a statement they claimed: “I am writing to advise you that there were no civil servants who accompanied Mr Jack Straw on his visit to Rochdale Borough because it was a political visit and not undertaken in his capacity as Lord Chancellor.”

Greater Manchester Police have now confirmed two weeks late that: “Where the current or future law enforcement role of the force may be compromised by the release of information. To provide the breakdown of the number of officers that are used to protect visiting officials could result in the force not being able to operate effectively as additional officers may need to be deployed to avoid any potential threats.”

Lib Dem Agent Adam Power said: “We will be appealing against Greater Manchester Police’s decision. Let’s be clear that over 30 officers were deployed in what the Ministry of Defence deem to be a ‘political visit’. Surely every local tax payer has every right to know where their money is going. During the visit, we spoke to local officers bemused that they had to stand around waiting for Mr Straw. He turned up at least an hour late for his ‘political visit’ to Castlemere Community Centre – from his ‘political visit’ to Kirkholt. This is an abuse of taxpayer’s money and I hope that my appeal will be listened to by GMP Administrators.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “This abuse of tax payer’s money and is a national scandal. It is quite clear that our hard working officers have been deployed for a ‘political visit’ – and that is unacceptable. I understand that Special Branch was involved as well as our local ‘bobbies.’ It would be acceptable if Mr Straw was visiting in his capacity as Minister for Justice. The fact of the matter was that he wasn’t, it was party political and this should be outlawed. I will be putting in a formal complaint to the Sergeant at Arms in Parliament.

"Local policing is stretched enough without being involved in party politics. In the case of the visit of Castlemere Community Centre, it is clear that more police were involved in protecting Mr Straw than actually attended the function. That is wrong, our police should police us. Local people don’t pay their taxes to police a Labour Party jamboree.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "We are very disappointed at Mr Rowen's decision to make such an opportunistic and irresponsible attack. I can confirm that there was a genuine threat made to Mr Straw's safety at this event and I hope, on reflection, the Lib Dems will withdraw these remarks.

"Surely, Paul Rowen would not want a repeat of the incident a few years back when the Liberal Democrat MP, Nigel Jones, was attacked by a maniac with a samurai sword? If our MP had any decency then he would take a more sensible stance instead of trying to score cheap political points when there are genuine safety issues here."

Date article online: 15/04/2008