Humbug!

We note that yesterday’s Wales on Sunday managed to find space to recount the outrage by uber-parsimonious Taxpayers Alliance that £40,000 was spent over three years between all 22 Welsh local authorities on celeb endorsements & personal appearances. This equates to about £606 a year per council.    

Matthew Elliott, TPA chief executive said: “It is obscene that ordinary taxpayers, who don’t earn much, are funding the lifestyles of the rich and the famous”. Hmm.

It’s an interesting comment from someone who heads up a rather shadowy outfit that still refuses to fully disclose details of salaries & expenses or how the organisation is financed. Speculation persists that the TPA receives significant donations from tory MPs - whose salaries and allowances are funded by the taxpayers.

Even the WoS would have to concede that this self-appointed spending watchdog is patently scraping the barrel by questioning whether the annual fireworks display or Christmas lights switch-on should include some C-list celeb who is enjoying an extended 15 minutes after their appearances on a instantly forgettable reality show. And we all know what kind of Scrooge-related headlines appear in the local press whenever a Santa's parade is curtailed.  

As it happens, Mr Elliot leaves the TPA this October to head up a campaign opposed to electoral reform. It will be fascinating to learn how this operation is funded and how many un-paid celebs are invited to share platforms with the rich & famous tory politicians.