Quite simply, we are over-governed

COUNCILS across Wales are facing challenges in the face of reduced government funding so now is the time to start the merger plans unveiled by a governmentappointed commission.

The report said a radical overhaul of Welsh councils is needed. The number of councils, 22, should be halved and the central message in their finding: change can’t come soon enough.

While public services are being cut and families squeezed by austerity, it’s not the time to increase the number of AMs or increase council tax. Surely council tax should only increase by the rate of inflation at the absolute maximum, but each year we pay more for less, we are over-governed by community and county councillors, MPs and AMs and still many places in Wales are the poorest in Europe.

It’s not austerity for all – consider the enormous salaries and bonuses paid to executives, university lecturers, NHS and charity bosses, MPs and AMs and councillors: MP’s salary £76,000, AM’s salary £64,000 with expenses and longer holidays than our school children – it’s time for politicians to show some fiscal restraint.

Politicians tell us there is no magic money tree but Mrs May can find a £1bn bung for the DUP for propping up her Government and £44.5m for border controls in France. AMs spent money travelling the world, on football trips and one to Washington DC.

The House of Lords and some MPs would like to crush the freedom of our press. They are anxious to avoid being caught with their snouts in the expenses trough. The Lords is archaic and not fit for the 21st century.

A free press has been a cornerstone of a democracy for 300 years. Westminster and Whitehall simply can’t be trusted to police themselves. BM Granville Bridgend