Helping the press

The engaging media trait of dripping poison on something or someone in order to generate public indignation was once dubbed “spurnalism” by one notable exponent. However, the practice is by no means restricted to Grub Street and the blood-crazed tabloids.

Take for example a running story in Swansea’s local paper which has seen the following succession of headlines over events at beleaguered Gorseinon Town Council.

Fiddlers, magicians and harpist at "extravagant" mayor's dinner; Under-fire town council refused groups funding; Calls for mayor to resign as full cost of "lavish" dinner revealed; Are councils good value?; Under-fire mayor won't resign over dinner fury, etc.

All of which should be a storm in a medium-sized teacup. But what has presumably sunk in among the Beans on Toast brigade is that elector power is not just limited to voting out the useless incumbents on community councils but also extends to actually scrapping the council altogether. A potentially popular step in these days of austerity.

As it happens, the local press is getting plenty of active assistance from the council itself with the latest revelation of how the mayor, town clerk and one other have decided to go off on a fairly pricey training course without getting prior official approval. According to the town clerk, “it was felt it was not necessary to call a meeting of councillors”.
 
Some might argue that this is the kind of no-nonsense approach needed to effectively run a small outfit. Others however might regard the apparent 'screw-you' attitude as closely resembling the sound of turkeys eager to vote in favour of a seasonal break and offering to sharpen the axe into the bargain.