Should local councillors get £25K?

The taxpayers of Dundee don't think so:

THE DUNDEE-BASED Council Tax Payers’ Association last night said that proposed 250% salary increases for councillors are “beyond belief”.

Not true, I'm afraid. It's all too believable. I really would be surprised if there's anyone left who doesn't realise that the whole point of Labour governments - yes even one headed by the saintly Tony Blair - is to fleece the taxpayer.

The "beyond belief" comment was obviously a bit of hyperbole. As the Taxpayers' spokesman says:

“This ridiculous announcement clearly identifies the priorities of our local/national politicians.

“In the private sector salaries are performance related. Obviously this does not apply to the public sector decision makers. It would be difficult to stand up and justify a 250% increase for any councillor.”

The Tories agree that councillors should get more but that the rise should be paid for by reducing the number of councillors. I suppose that's a start - private companies with council-sized turnover make do with modestly-sized boards of directors.

The most shocking proposal is that retiring councillors should get a "golden goodbye of £30,000". A golden bullet, more likely. Generally speaking, local councillors are incompetent, especially where our money is concerned. Why don't they stop the early retirement racket under which clockwatching bureaucrats get leaving packages that the rest of us could only dream about?