Heaton-Harris would be Mayor Rotherham's Waste Tsar

Chris Heaton-Harris MEP has accepted an offer by Dr Lee Rotherham to head up a "zero-based budgeting reappraisal of all of the GLA's expenditure" in the event of Rotherham becoming Mayor.

Heaton-Harris is a well-known eurosceptic MEP and a member of the European Parliament’s budget auditing committee. He's worked with Rotherham before in Brussels and on the popular Bumper Book of Government Waste. Commenting on the prospect of his role he said:

"There is so much unnecessary bureaucracy in Ken Livingstone’s office that I expect to find huge savings in only a few weeks. Taxpayers are currently funding the Mayor’s spin machine, as well as indulging his personal crusades, such as endorsing Hugo Chavez. Public money needs to be refocused to issues of real concern to Londoners, and I thank Lee for the opportunity to help him do that."

The main policy of Rotherham's candidacy is to work to abolish the mayoralty and he's pledged that he would take half-pay, have just one press officer and abolish the Londoner newspaper whilst in the process of doing so.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[Tony Sharp]

I would like to see Boris Johnson run for Mayor, but I cannot fault Lee Rotherham's policy planks noted above. Under Livingstone the Mayoralty has become a vast subsidised ego trip and self publicity machine. The story should be London, not the Mayor. Whoever wins the party nomination to run for Mayor, I hope they share Dr Rotherham's cost cutting agenda.

[Adam]

Errr doesn't Chris Heaton-Harris have his hands full being an MEP and candidate for Daventry?

[TaxCutter]

If the party considered policy important it would realise the inherent logic of Lee's proposals. He'll definitely be the dark horse to watch during the campaign

[Sally Roberts]

I think this would be an excellent role for Chris!

[James Harper]

Next...

[Rob Wilkins]

I agree that there is much unnecessary bureaucracy associated with Livingstone's office, and any Tory mayoral hopeful must look to address this issue. However, I would have thought that it would take an Act of Parliament to abolish the mayoralty, so I'm not quite sure that Lee Rotherham would be able to fulfil his main policy objective if elected to the post. I'm not an expert though and am sure others will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Andrew Ian Dodge]

Well it would be interesting to see what happens if he gets elected. If you agree with it why not make sure he wins and then you can find out.

[RodS]

A great role for Chris - if anyone can expose the waste, he can.

[Comstock]

Surely Rotherham's abolitionist stance is at odds with your plans for mayors in other cities?

[Daniel Hannan]

A fizzingly good idea from a much under-rated mayoral candidate. It's to Lee's credit that he made the offer, and to Chris's that he accepted.

[Derek]

If I had a vote, Lee would get it. Surely he stands for exactly the principles which should underpin the Conservative approach to government.