SW Regional Development Agency under fire for excessive spending at party conferences

By PRSD, on Monday, December 29, 2008

posted by Cptn

The South West Regional Development Agency is under fire for its excessive spending at political conferences.

The notion that those who supposedly have our best interests at heart are more intent on bigging themselves up in their own little club couldn’t be more apparent than the news that the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) spent more than £50,000 schmoozing at political conferences.

Figures from the Taxpayers’ Alliance reveal that the RDA coughed up £53,149 attending Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative conferences, with a break down of £30,985 at the Lib-Dem conference, £12,735 at Labour and £9,429 at the Tory event.

According to the Plymouth Herald: “Hosting events for Lib-Dems cost the SWRDA £26,533, £5,683 for Labour and £5,913 for the Conservatives. Four members of staff attended each of the conferences.”

A spokesperson for the SWRDA told the Plymouth Herald: “The RDAs take communications with MPs of all political parties very seriously and are accountable to MPs and Parliament in all we do.”

Which, we suppose, is far easier if the MPs in question are wined and dined, or is that unfair?

“The party conferences present a cost effective way of briefing our elected representatives and MPs in one place at one time on issues facing the region, and to showcase the best the South West has to offer,” they said.

Cost effective?

“This year, as the Lib-Dems conference took place within the region (Bournemouth), and they have 16 South West MPs, we provided an opportunity for delegates to meet our key stakeholders and sample some of the best produce in the region, prepared by trainee chefs at the Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall – a project supported by SWRDA.”

Sounds good, but let’s say the 16 MPs meet 16 key stakeholders and it’s £200 per head for the food (!) – that’s £6,400. There’s still another £20,000 to be accounted for.

They also say that they held fringe events in partnership with the New Local Government Network. Partnership, ehh? Doesn’t that mean sharing costs?

Let’s not underestimate the power of schmoozing, but why work so hard on peddling a story of prosperity in the region – are MPs against the idea?

external link
SWRDA Under Attack Again Over £2 Million Costs from Bristol Indymedia