Row over Home Secretary expenses jibe

A FURIOUS political row flared at Warrington after a jibe from council leader Ian Marks about embattled Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Labour leader Coun Terry O’Neill (right) tabled a motion asking the council to welcome the Home Secretary’s decision not to go ahead with proposals for directly elected police authorities.
But Coun Marks (below) refused to support the motion and said: “We are not in the business of welcoming any decision by a Labour Home Secretary, particularly one who is currently in the spotlight for highly dubious reasons.
“At least we are not being asked to approve her Parliamentary expenses!”
Ms Smith is facing criticism over her claims for nearly £23,000 allowances for a second home and claiming expenses for two adult films watched by her husband.
Coun O’Neill accused Coun Marks of “politicising” a serious issue.
He said: “To say I am disappointed is an understatement. It is disgraceful.
“This was a serious point that was both valid and relevant.”
Coun O’Neill’s motion, seconded by Labour deputy leader Coun Mike Hannon, stated: “This council opposes the direct election of police authority members or police commissioners and welcomes the Home Secretary’s decision not to proceed with such proposals.”
The Labour leader said it was important for the council to keep the democratic relationship it had with the police.
Coun Marks said the Local Government Association had lobbied long and hard against directly elected police authorities, supported by the vast majority of councillors from all three main political parties and independent councillors.
It would undermine the successful partnership built between councils and the police, would create confusion about who was responsible for tackling crime and could lead to blame shifting.
Conducting extra elections would cost money which could fund an extra 700 police officers and electioneering by candidates could undermine public confidence in the police.
Coun Marks said the Government had changed its mind because the Home Affairs Select Committee had come out strongly against police boards and because an analysis of the likely electoral outcome showed a massive loss of power by Labour.
However, he did not believe the reasons for the Government’s “U-turn” were sincere.”