It has emerged that, after some squabbling Rosie Winterton, will be the Local Government Minister. She will be part time as she is also Business Minister in Lord Mandelson's empire. Given the extent of meddling from central Government in the minutia bof how Town Halls are run one would have thought a full time minister would have been justified. The problem is that the lack of Ministerial oversight will not result in less interference - simply in DCLG bureaucrats running amok passing ever more regulations with less democratic accountability to restrain them.
So far Winterton is mainly noted as a protege of John Prescott. Her experience of life in the real world before entering Parliament consisted of a job with lobbyists Connect Public Affairs and working for Southwark Council as their "Parliamentary Officer." (I wonder how many councils employ Parliamentary Officers.) She has had to repay £8,000 in expenses after claiming the entire cost of her mortgage rather than just the interest.
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