| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:To John. | |
| Posted by: | John Holt | |
| Date/Time: | 19/04/11 17:05:00 |
Nigel, I get the feeling you're jealous because you were a councillor in the days before allowances were given and so you resent the fact that councillors now get small allowances to help compensate them for the expenses they face in carrying out their duties.I think you underestimate the work involved in being a councillor in a London borough.By the way Parish councillors STILL don't get allowances because they have very little work to do in comparison.So I don't think you know what you're talking about here. I think it's important to emphasise that councillors don't get paid for what they do.They only get allowances and there are not many candidates queueing up to do it because for most people it involves financial loss because it takes up so much time it stops you doing other things, like earning money to pay bills or pay into a pension pot for instance.Many councillors who work full time negotiate reduced working hours with their employer and incur a reduced salary as a result and the allowances don't make up for that loss in many cases. It is also a commitment to sign up for 4 years and for most councillors involves 20-30 hours per week spread over days,evenings and weekends - i.e.a totally different league to the ad-hoc voluntary stuff you say you've done.MPs on the other hand get paid for what they do and get allowances on top. So I strongly refute your cynical nonsense.You won't volunteer any time to save your library when it's needed and yet you expect others to donate 20-30 hours per week for four years with no compensation.Many ordinary people would find that a barrier to being a councillor that they simply could not overcome and that would be a bad thing for democracy. You are a self-righteous hypocrite who spurts ridiculous right-wing propaganda borne of ignorance. It is you who has no idea about'balance'.No-one goes into being a councillor for 'potential earning time' and being a councillor nowadays is a hell of a lot more than volunteering. It's a hefty commitment for 4 years and those that go into it from all parties are committed to what they do and that should be recognised. There's nothing clever about cynicism such as yours. |