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Hotels, massages and chauffeurs: Labour's £651m 'culture of excess'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor12 Aug 2010
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today accused Labour ministers of a “culture of excess” as he revealed the most detailed breakdown yet of government spending.
His Department for Communities and Local Government is the first to disclose all spending on goods and services above £500. The 1,900 items listed for the department and its quangos, totalling £651 million, include:
* £17,000 on an event at a four-star hotel opposite Buckingham Palace.
* £13,000 of catering commissioned from Manchester United.
* £75,000 paid to a sculptor.
* £1,600 on massages for staff.
* £539 on an awayday to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Mr Pickles said the amounts disclosed for the central department for 2009-10 totalled £314 million.
There was a £16 million bill for marketing, advertising, promotion and events, while £635,000 went on taxis and chauffeur-driven cars, and nearly £310,000 on catering and food. The quangos accounted for another £337 million. One entry for the Government Offices for the Regions — which are being abolished — was £1,673 to Stress Angels on-site corporate masseurs.
Mr Pickles said: “Labour ministers in charge of doubling council tax went on a spending spree with other people's money, racking up massive debts on the nation's credit card.”
He has already asked councils in England to publish details of spending over £500, but they will not be forced to do so. All departments apart from health and international development have been asked to find ways to cut costs by between 25 per cent and 40 per cent, to tackle the budget deficit.
Reader views (49)
Posted my comment here re. Topshop Man, Green, article.
Am intrigued as to why my earlier comments were not allowed, just looking in, to gauge what the ES will allow, may be an error, seems a repeated one though, can only say that if not allowed then it certainly is not a place to post comments. No disrespect for Paul W. But should perhaps get my access to other papers sorted out, not one for remembering passwords, not my only reason for visiting this site, have some regard for Paul W, though I'm sure a ES man to a degree. Had the same experience with the Times, and stopped reading regularly as a result, so one less paper to spend your spare 5 minutes on. It's nearly over this election thing.
Mention of Brown incomplete, as his reference to inefficiency in this area, though not always himself entirely, he did do other things well, was in comparison to that of Green's unsuitability, for opposite reasons, in my eyes. Also, can fully understand why my comments would not be welcome. Not trying to change the world or government, just not accepting of the obvious, the public are not as vacuous as our governments would like to believe. Not really worthwhile commenting unless favourable to some in this paper. Same old, same old. Best to keep your thoughts to the living. Papers are sometimes, deadbeat, really. And all this free speech business with government is not of value always, and for the reasons thought, just for there advantage on what the public may think.
- M, London, 14/08/2010 12:19
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Everyone in the Public Sector may pay tax but its the Private sector taxes that pay their salaries dunbo.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 13/08/2010 07:38
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conservative by nature; labour by experiance
- james malone, london, uk, 13/08/2010 01:35
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For Karen. I think you misunderstood my point. Firstly however, Brazil is not a 3rd World country and in fact has a GNP and GDP larger than the UK which itself is fast becoming 3rd. World. What I was trying to say is that you do not have a monopoly on Public Sector layabouts.At least you can do something about it whereas we can´t as it gets bogged down in beaurocracy
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 12/08/2010 21:29
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Stuart, Chesterfield - I'm with you on that one, for sure.
- ID, Brighton UK, 12/08/2010 20:44
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Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 12/08/2010 11:33
Everyone in the Public Sector also pays tax. Unlike the Conservative non-doms who are trying to push these stupid cuts through.
- Andrew, London, 12/08/2010 20:32
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All politicians are the same, greedy, snouts in the trough, deceitfull, dishonest, self centred and arrogant.
I would'nt be surprised to eventually find out that the present incumbents of downing street are silently secreting public assets away for their own ends whilst we speak.
No faith in them at all, any of them.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 12/08/2010 20:01
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Given up on commenting, never full of their meaning, so limiting. Easier reading a book for 5 mins. Public is still ahead with government on this one, as to mean, their transparency with spending, is good for the public, for government too I imagine.
- M, London, 12/08/2010 19:09
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Sculpture article. Only reading 2 pieces of news today, so this has been a good one. A life time ago now but have known a few miners, and two family members, one for a stint, one a career out of it, and I don't know about the memorial part, really, but if the case, not money wasted entirely, just maybe a little less for what this is? That's funny. But as for apologies, maybe a low profile (hide them), like all politicians when they may displease the public for an instant, and depending on the offense, hide them for a day, a week, a month ....
Also, miners have taste, many of their children have gone on to do many different , and also wonderful things, so they have been exposed to much, good art too.
It's actually okay, now seen a second time, it's just what it is, not my choice, it's a blokey type piece, no.
- M, London, 12/08/2010 18:57
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Who needs the queen. Sounds like you already have more royalty than you need.
- Denise Thompson, Tustin, USA, 12/08/2010 17:58
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i suppose any conservative goverment in the past dinned in burger king and stayed in travel lodges this is a condem spin to cover up their actions in goverment.this bunch do not even have the guts to tell people the truth about the cuts and pain they are about launch on this country
- john sneddon, london england, 12/08/2010 17:57
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Since the election, the only clip I have seen on TV of Eric Pickles at some kind of government meeting he was sitting at a large conference or dining table, everyone else had finished eating and were in conversation across the table. Conversely, Eric Pickles was concentrating on still eating. Sums up the reality of the priorities of this rather unhealthy looking member of government.
His nose appeared to be as deep in the food trough, as the grasping failures who preceeded him.
There was, and continues to be a culture of grabbing everything possible whilst in office by English politicians.
Regarding New Labour, Michael Heseltine was once quoted as saying "They are all socialists, until they get some money". How very true, just take a glance at the House of Lords since 1997.
- Concerned Observer., Harrow, 12/08/2010 17:56
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If Labour was that bad then why did cameron not win the election?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Consider this: In 2001 NuLab won 10.7 million votes and the Tories won 8.4 million. NuLab had a majority in the Commons of more than 160. In 2010 the Tories won 10.7 million votes and Labour won 8.6 million. NuLab won 258 seats and the Tories were 26 short of a majority.
Not exactly an even playing field!
- Percy Vere, Chipping Campden, Glos., 12/08/2010 17:29
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I've just gone from reading a nice piece by Ed West today, to now, choking re. your selected picture, it's too much, did not notice it before. Politics is a giggle too, no (not really).
- M, London, 12/08/2010 16:48
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Eric "I Am A Fat Git" Pickles...He can start to set an example by cutting back on his food in take...he must be costing his department a fortune in the subsidised canteen maintaining his rather large frame!!!
- Mark - Born In Walworth -, Lives In Sunny Sidcup!!!, 12/08/2010 16:41
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Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil. You think it OK then, then we do a tad better than a third world nation? The UK under Labour became poorer, shabbier and sadder. The Labour government led by Brown and Blair should be lined up and shot for treason.
- karen, London, UK, 12/08/2010 15:44
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Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil. You think it OK then, then we do a tad better than a third world nation? The UK under Labour became poorer, shabbier and sadder. The Labour government led by Brown and Blair should be lined up and shot for treason.
- karen, London, UK, 12/08/2010 15:43
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Where is that Livingstone supporter mickinlondon? this is exactly the same red ken would inflict on us law abidibg Londoners, if we were unlucky enough to have him foisted upon us with people like you, voting him back into power.
- terry, london, 12/08/2010 15:06
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@Melvyn Windebank 12/08/2010 11:55
You asked "why did Eric "fatboy" Pickles need all those red sofas for?"
He didn't. They were ordered by his snout-in-the trough chipmunk Labour predecessor, the truly appalling Hazel Blears.
- Stevie G, London SW11, 12/08/2010 14:48
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@-Alex C, London: "can you please stop putting his picture up all the time it gives me indigestion".
You are lucky Alex C.
Every time I see a picture of smarmy Gormless Brown I am violently sick in my goldfish bowl (in case the Stasi 'Elf'n'Safety' wombles are reading this, the goldfish expired long ago, as I could not afford to feed it).
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, UKSSR, 12/08/2010 14:13
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Didnt mr pickles purchased a 70k Jaguar at the taxpayers expense to be driven around???
- Clear, london, 12/08/2010 13:51
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This has more than a whiff of the Dacha about it. Anyone entering politics is morally suspect from the off as far as a lot of people are concerned, as power corrupts and those in power seem to forget whose money they are being so profligate with and in whose interests they are supposed to be acting.
- Squiz, Islington, 12/08/2010 13:05
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There were some decent Labour MPs & ministers, Frank Field & Martin Salter, for example.
However the whole New Labour project was far left & Stalinist, but with a human face.
Apparachniks got massive benefits, that us proles could not afford.
And like Communism, NuLabour could only survive by employing millions as
state employees, thus guaranteeing their re election as the majority of Brits ended up as Brown's workers.
These state employees produced & exported nothing, & so became a drain on
a shrinking tax base.
I've just seen three smartly dressed young ladies with clipboards checking out a
circus for "environmental health". Their salaries + Nat Insurance + offices etc
probably cost us £100,000 annually.
I'm sorry the Coalition is so week on Europe & immigration, but at least it's not
Labour !
- The Convenient Truth, Reading, England, 12/08/2010 13:02
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What are you all complaining about? Come to Brazil where all this is common practice for many civil servants and politicians. The tax payer sits back accepts it and has little or no recourse to the justice system.
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 12/08/2010 13:01
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So, when you read those stories of the coalition having to cut hospital budgets, defence budgets, education budgets and every other budget, it is because of the profligacy, ineptitude and in the case of "Stress Angels", idiocy of the previous government.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 12/08/2010 12:47
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Labour only know how to tax and spend, and G Brown was a prime example of it. Blair tried to pretend he was different but so long as his nest was feathered he couldn't give a damn.
The key will be how much the conservatives can show they are giving money back to individuals and the people at large.
I doubt we will feel any better off 3 years from now but bet all MP's will be laughing with guaranteed pensions, salaries, and support.
Teh system stinks because we don't have real democratic processes, and cabinet government is just not there. Until we return to that and minutes are shown after 5 years not 30 we will be spun endless line that have no real value at all.
- Robert Marshall, London, 12/08/2010 12:28
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Typical socialist state culture. All people are equal but some are far more equal than others! Just look at Bob Crowe RMT Union on £130k per year plus apparently unlimited expenses. Then take a look and mendacity Blair, Ken Livingstone and Gordon Brown not forgetting Laud Mandelson.
When you then take a closer look at regional assembly members, councillors and MP's who put their pockets before the people you find the disgraceful situation recently highlighted in the Sunday Telegraph where 2 Tory councillors receive £120k per year one of them from Croydon has 5 jobs but still the Conservative Government does nothing but instead targets firstly the benefits cheats. Put the politicians house in order first Cameron and Johnson and now!
- Brian, Surrey, 12/08/2010 12:26
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Well lucky for Labour and any future government, with the opening of the books from George Osborne, and all the rest that he will/may do. this will never again happen. Hopefully, this will not turn into a regular feature as a distraction for what some in government cannot offer beyond this. Just waiting for a few politicians to emerge who have enough instinct for what their public may need and want, and without the need, always, for a script from their adviser, now that would save some £sss in the future. Do we have such politicians? (do trust George for the books). What's next, more interested in this. The criminal aspect of this, and not so really as the public can say this, we were not in politics and witnessing this and, allowing it. I blame opposition too, but not ultimately. If we were not asleep then where were they? Suited to a degree, gives more meaning to their government. But that said, the public is still ahead on this one with government.
- M, London, 12/08/2010 12:24
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If Labour was that bad then why did cameron not win the election?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 12/08/2010 11:55
Because many of them are stupid and many are dependant on Labour for benefits or in the bloated public sector. Remember they elected Labour in for 13 years, what idiots.
- Stephen C, London, 12/08/2010 12:16
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If you work for a living, this is a capitalist country: You pay, pay, pay...
If you don't work or choose NOT to work, then, (under big daddy Labour) it was, and to a point, still is, a socialist paradise, and everything is given to you, if you live in a Labour run council ( including designer kitchens, double glazed brand new windows for all the house, gardeners to cut for free your bushes and trees, etc, etc, etc ).
- Michaella, London UK, 12/08/2010 12:15
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@Melvyn Windebank"If Labour was that bad then why did cameron not win the election". Because those on benefits thanks to Brown voted Labour so that they can stay on benefits without looking for work
- Christine, London, 12/08/2010 12:11
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It's not over yet. As I walked through Hyde Park this morning I saw a troop of about 12 mounted Royal Horse Artillery Troopers riding to exercise their horses. Nothing wrong with that but they had an escort of 3 police motorcyclists, 1 at the front and 2 at the rear. OK, i appreciate they had come from public roads but how much is this exercise of 12 horses costing us. As I continued my walk through Connaught Square there were 2 very bored looking police officers with sub machine guns close to Blair's London mansion.
I think the Met Commissioner has an incredibly easy job in cutting costs but will he do it? Of course not. None of them get it.
- Stephen C, London, 12/08/2010 12:06
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Joe, youre right again.. Unfortunately the Management Consultancies in question are experienced at conning the authorities, and Dave is too wet and weak to put a stop to it. I would like them all to be given their marching orders now, and put an end to it overnight. The NHS has struggled for a long time and is overburdened and broke.
We have an NHS here, it is a co-operative society based system and it is really the best ive seen anywhere. I am certain the British NHS could be good again if it was rid of these leaches.
Most of them are similar to civil servant,s inherently left-wing and have never been outside into the real world. Most of them have been to university, then into a public sector office to push a pen, then into ripping off the NHS to the tune of millions. I wil cheer when these organisations go bust.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 12/08/2010 12:00
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So why did Eric "fatboy" Pickles need all those red sofas for? And look at all those Con-Dems riding around in ministerial cars looks like the sole Green Party MP will have plenty of company after the next election!!
This is obviously aimed at the plans to abolish regional authorities but dont complain when Scotland opens closed rail lines while England grinds to a halt as there will be no plans for schemes that cross council boundaries!!
If Labour was that bad then why did cameron not win the election?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 12/08/2010 11:55
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These all need to put away then put on a series of posters at the next elction and the one after that
people like the Harman woman & her comrades are self serving despots who will talk social justice then bankrupt the lot of us to keep up their politics of envy front while they fritter and squander out ever increasing taxes
Low life
- Paul, London, 12/08/2010 11:54
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Andrew
Yes, I imagine the NHS has been incredibly profitable for management consultants during the past decade. As someone waiting several months for treatement, I cannot say I have experienced any difference in the quality of NHS service.
It will be interesting to see how the partners of management consultants (many of whom come from similar backgrounds to Govt MPs and senior civil servants) lobby to protect a very rich lifestyle a lot of which has been paid for by our taxes. If they manage to connive to continue earning large multi-million pound fees from public sector clients, using our money, it will be scandalous.
- Joe, Hampshire, 12/08/2010 11:50
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They're socialists, they think money comes from a magic money tree and if you spend it all, you can just pick some more.
This is a side issue though. The real problem is how many people now take more from the state than they pay in. Everyone in the public sector, everyone unemployed or on incapacity benefit, a lot of people on large amounts of tax credits. You're talking a big proportion of the total working-age adults. And that's leaving out pensioners, children, etc. The inescapable fact is that too few people are supporting too many.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 12/08/2010 11:33
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And all whilst 235 million has been scrapped from playgrounds. (and school refurbs)
Absolutely sick
- bobby, berks, 12/08/2010 11:21
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Youre right Joe.
I remember in the UK there was even a huge management consultancy whose only client was the NHS. They blew millions of Pounds of taxpayers money on rhetorical meetings with NHS managers all over the UK, had expensive homes and brand new luxury company cars, expenses budgets and massive, expensive offices.
What a waste, when the NHS needs the money to pay for doctors and nurses to treat people's illnesses!
I hope this is stopped immediately.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 12/08/2010 11:20
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Having worked for a very wasteful local Govt body, (resigning due to my disgust at the wastage there), I am delighted that the Govt is leading this initiative to reduce waste in the public sector.
I look forward to seeing the rediculous amounts of money being spent on management consultants published by every public sector body.
Not sure if Govt is being blinded by the size of this public sector project, but CrossRail is expending silly fees on external management consultants when it could recruit them all very easily much more cheaply in this recession. I believe hundred of millions of our money could be quickly saved on that project.
- Joe, Hampshire, 12/08/2010 11:01
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Val Mijas Spain
Your comments please!
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 12/08/2010 10:38
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Bla bla bla. Yes of course we all knew that it was happening and voted them out. What are Dave and Nick going to do please.
- BJ, East London, 12/08/2010 10:36
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At the very least, I'm pleased that I no longer have to pay to read this rubbish.
- Charles, Kennington, 12/08/2010 10:35
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Champaigne socialists ... nothing new..they are all the same. Just like that moron Bob Crowe.
- Paul H, London, 12/08/2010 10:17
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Champagne socialists at their best. Who can recall the smirk of Tony Blair when he told us how humbled it was to serve the country or the sneer from Gordon Brown on the steps of No. 10 as he said higher standards of governance would be introduced.
Yet Labour still don't get it. One of the leadership candidates, Diane Abbott, sent se soon to private school whilst Ed Balls seems unable to choose which of the houses he owns is his primary residence.
- Jayne, London, 12/08/2010 10:10
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Socialist at it's finest...
- ST, London, 12/08/2010 09:35
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The country needs to be reminded again and again ad nauseam until everyone understands the scale of the profligate and utter waste of 13 years of Labour. It is because of this profligacy that everyone has to pay a price now... It is shameful and disgusting to know of such waste. Shame on your Labour.
- Gary, Hong Kong, 12/08/2010 09:26
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This means they can sack quite a few of them if they've had time for all these jollies.
Get on with it. Sack Public Sector Shirkers.
- Anglo, Sussex England, 12/08/2010 09:21
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Now that he's gone can you please stop putting his picture up all the time it gives me indigestion
- Alex C, London, 12/08/2010 09:05
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