Comments on: Philip Hammond and the ‘Bonfire of the Quangos’ http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peter1919 http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94378 Peter1919 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:15:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94378 How about getting rid of regional development agencies and actually passing their powers and budgets to democratically elected politicians at some level (preferably local ones). They spend millions of pounds but are totally unaccountable :-( Yorkshire Forward spent over £300m in 2007-08 How about getting rid of regional development agencies and actually passing their powers and budgets to democratically elected politicians at some level (preferably local ones). They spend millions of pounds but are totally unaccountable :-(

Yorkshire Forward spent over £300m in 2007-08

]]> By: Alex http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94324 Alex Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:56:21 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94324 Hi Simon, Oh I get that alright; but their commitment to MacKenzie goes further than that. They don't have to stick him on the Celebrity Apprentice (for instance) for the sake of 'balance'. On another slightly spurious note, only in politics could a 53 year old former businessman be thought of as a 'rising star' ;-) Hi Simon,

Oh I get that alright; but their commitment to MacKenzie goes further than that. They don’t have to stick him on the Celebrity Apprentice (for instance) for the sake of ‘balance’.

On another slightly spurious note, only in politics could a 53 year old former businessman be thought of as a ‘rising star’ ;-)

]]> By: Benjamin http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94322 Benjamin Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:38:03 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94322 I'm not really worried whether or not the Tories can tell us now whether the Potato Council or the Home Grown Cereals Authority are safe at this point - or even Andrew Marr's points about the salaries of quango CEOs. What was totally accepted at face value was the proposal that all these abolished bodies' powers should be returned to Whitehall. And no mention at all was made of the one big measure that could bring real accountability and cost savings in the big quangos and pass real POWER (all the discussion seems to be about money but these are also powerful bodies we're discussing) back to people - Regional devolution in England. I’m not really worried whether or not the Tories can tell us now whether the Potato Council or the Home Grown Cereals Authority are safe at this point – or even Andrew Marr’s points about the salaries of quango CEOs.

What was totally accepted at face value was the proposal that all these abolished bodies’ powers should be returned to Whitehall.
And no mention at all was made of the one big measure that could bring real accountability and cost savings in the big quangos and pass real POWER (all the discussion seems to be about money but these are also powerful bodies we’re discussing) back to people – Regional devolution in England.

]]> By: Simon Titley http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94321 Simon Titley Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:36:18 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94321 Kelvin MacKenzie? My guess is that – along with John Gaunt and Richard Littlejohn – he is wheeled out as a pundit to protect the BBC’s right flank. The BBC is sensitive to criticism of a ‘liberal bias’ and fearful of a Tory government. Giving an airing to Essex Man prejudices helps to satisfy a need for ‘balance’. Kelvin MacKenzie? My guess is that – along with John Gaunt and Richard Littlejohn – he is wheeled out as a pundit to protect the BBC’s right flank.

The BBC is sensitive to criticism of a ‘liberal bias’ and fearful of a Tory government.

Giving an airing to Essex Man prejudices helps to satisfy a need for ‘balance’.

]]> By: Mark Reckons http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94319 Mark Reckons Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:21:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94319 That's a charitable description of him Alex. There is an Anglo-Saxon 4 letter word that describes him much better. That’s a charitable description of him Alex. There is an Anglo-Saxon 4 letter word that describes him much better.

]]> By: Alex http://www.libdemvoice.org/philip-hammond-and-the-bonfire-of-the-quangos-15577.html#comment-94318 Alex Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:17:26 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15577#comment-94318 Off-topic slightly, but what is it with the BBC's 'rehabilitation' of Kelvin MacKenzie over the last few years? He is a truly odious individual. Off-topic slightly, but what is it with the BBC’s ‘rehabilitation’ of Kelvin MacKenzie over the last few years? He is a truly odious individual.

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