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Crony Tory Politics in Surrey

On 8 Feb 2017 at 1:45pm The Greek wrote:

So a referendum for a 15% council tax rise in Surrey to pay for social care was shelved last minute yesterday. A raise of 4.99% was voted through instead.
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Today mis-sent texts are leaked from the Conservative leader of Surrey CC to a Labour politician named Nick Forbes in the LGA. These texts were meant to go to Nick King, Sajid Javid's special adviser.
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These texts talk about a "memorandum of understanding" and insinuate a special deal between Surrey CC and the Government over this issue.
How convenient that Surrey County Council, one of the richest areas of the country, benefits from this deal.
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Surrey CC has a 53/81 Conservative majority and has been controlled by the Conservatives since 1973.
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11 Conservative MPs have Surrey constituencies. Including the delightful Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling, Kwasi Kwarteng, Crispin Blunt and Philip Hammond.
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Is it a coincidence that such a sweetheart deal has been reached in an area represented by 3 Government front-benchers? I'll let you decide...
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Many northern Labour MPs, who are losing out through lower council tax contributions, are rightfully fuming.
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This is crony politics at its finest.

Check it out here »

On 8 Feb 2017 at 1:48pm And More wrote:

"Mr Speaker, I wonder if it�s anything to do with the fact that the chancellor and health secretary both represent Surrey constituencies. But there was a second text from the Surrey County Council leader to Nick and in the second text he says: �The number you indicated, are the numbers that I understand are acceptable for me to accept and for me to call off the �R�. Now, I�ve been reading a bit of John Le Carre and apparently "R" means referendum. It�s very subtle all this. And he goes on to say in his text to Nick if it is possible for that info to be sent to myself, I can them revert back soonest, really want to kill this off. So how much did the government offer Surrey to kill this off, and is the same sweetheart deal available to every council facing the social care crisis created by her government?"

On 8 Feb 2017 at 6:18pm Historian wrote:

What does it matter to them, it's not their money !!
Sack the lot !

On 8 Feb 2017 at 7:33pm Geoff wrote:

Don't forget that Surrey and East Sussex CC are inow in partnership under the name Orbis. When I say partnership what I mean is a takeover from a rich Tory council that have not made the reductions in staff that we have over the last 5 years. Jobs lost hear only for a larger team to do the work in Surrey (staff are better paid and not as great as they think they are).