NHS/Public Sector Fat Cats Pay

The recent disclosures following an investigation  by the Taxpayers Alliance have highlighted the obscene rake-offs by certain individuals, some of whom have presided over less than successful regimes, while others have bordered on criminal irresponsibility.

It’s not the level of remuneration that necessarily sticks in the craw. I certainly wouldn’t take on a job of heading an out of control juggernaut. The fact of the underhand and extremely dubious ways in which the packages are constructed leave us all in no doubt that there is something very wrong.

Yet the powers that be have the nerve to criticise businesses who use legal methods of keeping their tax bills to a minimum. Still, we’re all in this together aren’t we? No, we certainly are not. 

Foreign Aid and The Treasury

A report today suggests that “up to half of British taxpayers’ cash meant for Syrian refugees has been wasted on United Nations red tape.” This will come as no surprise to anyone, except the most naive, as it has never been any different. The lack of full accountability means that it is easy to “lose” or divert money from its intended recipients into the pockets of dictators and those seen as more trustworthy. Sometimes the diversion is deliberate and corrupt. Other times it happens through sheer inefficiency and trailless movements of funds through unnecessarily complex channels.

What is so galling about all this is simply that when the potential recipients of Government help are UK citizens, and we could quote many such as the steel workers, some pensioners, smaller charities, carers, etc., the coffers are empty. “We can’t afford it,” we are told, because the deficit has to be reduced. At other times, it appears that there is a bottomless purse full of handouts abroad and into dubious hands.

We’re all in this together? Are we heck! Some are in it up to their necks, but others are regularly drinking champagne!