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Lawyers raise alarm at struggle to tackle UK local government corruption

www.theguardian.com Lawyers raise alarm at struggle to tackle UK local government corruption

Exclusive: staff and councillors at 36 local authorities accused of financial crime in past decade with dozens arrested and convicted

Lawyers raise alarm at struggle to tackle UK local government corruption
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  • Many other councils are being scrutinised for potential financial mismanagement leading to huge losses in councils funds. One of those is Thurrock council, found to have recklessly put hundreds of millions of pounds into commercial investments, where an accountant is being investigated by the Financial Reporting Council.

    They should come to Bristol and see how it's done. We're able to lose millions, devalue public services, close libraries, shut down public swimming pools, get bungs from building contractor companies in exchange for contracts, refuse a record number of freedom of information requests from the public, ban journalists from council meetings, and still get reelected!

    • Thurrock council, found to have recklessly put hundreds of millions of pounds into commercial investments

      And the other recently bankrupt councils, Croydon being one I know of and also possibly Lewisham(?).

      But here's the thing, afaik, those councils were encouraged to make those investments by central government. They may even have been heavily pressured to do so.

      Whether there was pressure for any particular investments, I can't easily tell. But I'm fairly certain that if you suggest to local authority administrators who have as much knowledge as anyone else about it, ie fuck all, that to increase your budget you should invest it, they will make terrible investments and it will end in tears.

      I always start with the default that it's government corruption first. If others know more I'm happy to hear it, but .gov are guilty until proven innocent.

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