AT a quick glance - if you have just arrived from Mars - the generosity of the Labour leader, who has pledged to hand out his allowance to charity, will fill you with great hope.
Fortunately, the people of Wyre Forest don't come from Mars, and have much experience of attempts to fool them into believing communications from this source.
When you strip away how this move has been dressed up, you are left with money well spent on marketing the interests and local profile of the Labour group - a general election is on its way.
It's your money they're spending, and their Government that laid down the components for the modernisation of local councils - this includes independent reviews of councillors' allowances, now implemented right across the UK.
What opportunists and hypocrites - have you heard them complaining about what they quietly awarded themselves at county level? No fear, it's too embarrassing.
Incidentally, if Councillor Shaw and his colleagues distribute the sum of £4,450 then they will truly be giving away their own money, since the £4,450 will have been subject to a deduction of tax at 22 per cent - £979 plus National Insurance. I hope they find this bit of information helpful in their planning.
FRANK BAILLIE
Telford Drive
Bewdley
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