The Rotherham Star Joins the Fray on First Class Travel!

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On Friday the Rotherham Star published the following story under the headline:

First class row over council rail travel
Published Date: 12 February 2010
By Richard Marsden

CALLS for a ban on first class train travel by members of a South Yorkshire council have been rejected.
The move was proposed by independent Rotherham councillor, Peter Thirlwall, who represents Wickersley.

At a full meeting of the council, he told fellow councillors: "I would ask you all to consider your position carefully before rejecting this motion, which would be taken by the vast majority of Rotherham people as a sign you do not live in the same world as them.........To read the rest of this story CLICK HERE

On Saturday they followed this up with an opinion piece:
Opinion The Star, Saturday, February 13,2010

Think again over first class travel 
 
COUNCILLORS in Rotherham ought to think twice about hanging on to their policy of paying for first class travel when they have to go to London on business.
They were asked to make the economy of buying cheaper tickets in future to show voters in the town that they are aware of the stringent times in which we all try to survive.
Refusing to consider this choice, councillors will leave many residents wondering if they are aware of the problems everyday folk endure during the credit crunch.
They should think again on this issue.

We, of course, agree with the Star!
Elected Members of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council cannot continue with extravagances such as this! They cost us, last year, over £1,100,000!

They are incapable or unwilling to change. Rotherham will wait in vain for Labour or the Tories to stop their party games and run Rotherham properly.

This is why we are asking for your support for Peter Thirlwall at the General Election, and for our Independent Candidates standing throughout the whole Town at the Local Elections, on May 6th. 

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Rotherham Independents - A Fresh Start for Rotherham!

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If, like us you are fed up with the way that Politicians in Rotherham always ignore our opinions and the needs of ordinary people. Then get busy and change things!

A grassroots group is now building rapidly throughout the Borough that offers you the chance to do something about it now! The Rotherham Independents is that group.

We were exactly like you, complaining a lot but doing nothing serious about it, often not even bothering to vote at all because we had no faith in any of them to make a difference.

We have tired of waiting for things to improve and decided to do it ourselves! No one else will do it for us, shake off your apathy and do something about it with us!

Join us! and help us change Rotherham for good!

Find out more about us, we are sure you will like what you find and are convinced that you will want to join us in changing Rotherham from the bottom up!

To add your name to our email circulation click on this link independentsteam@googlemail.com

To contact us or join us please phone us on: 01709541111 or mobile 07747633866

To email Peter Thirlwall click on this link peter.thirlwall@talktalk.net

Correspondence Address:
Rotherham Independents
6 Pinchwell View
Wickersley
Rotherham
S66 1FP

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Dr MacShane - Dr Disgrace, More Like!

The Advertiser has today lifted the lid on the extent and nature of MacShane's disreputable, dishonest and greedy attitude to spending your money.

We feel deeply embarrassed and hurt by his behaviour and now feel ashamed to come from Rotherham. This is set only to get worse as he 'wriggles on the hook' trying to refute the increasingly serious allegations about his conduct.

Peter Thirlwall's letter to MacShane raises other very serious issues. These questions must be answered, directly and openly.

MacShane has also gone missing again, raising the issue of his basic cowardice in front of his angry constituents. He has form for this! (last time he was away in Canada, wonder where he is this time?)

This is why Peter Thirlwall, our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Rotherham, offers a distinct alternative to Labour and all the other traditional parties which have so badly let us down. 

We stand for open accountability for everything that is done in your name. Anything less than this is an affront to democracy! 

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Legg Report Out Today!

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Rotherham's MPs' today found out how much trouble they are in. 
Sir Thomas Legg's Report, published by the members estimates committee says the following about Rotherham's three MPs'

Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP
Rother Valley
Mr Barron has no issues.

Mr John Healey MP
Wentworth
Mr Healey was overpaid by a total of £2,354.35 for mortgage interest (£460.00 in
2004-05; £359.49 in 2005-06; £447.65 in 2006-07; £639.50 in 2007-08; and
£447.72 in 2008-09).

Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP
Rotherham
Dr MacShane was paid cleaning costs totalling £7,354.34 (£3,000.00 in 2004-05;
£2,341.34 in 2005-06; and £2,013.00 in 2007-08). This exceeded £2,000 a year by
£1,354.34.
In September and October 2008, he was paid £153.39 for gas without providing
sufficient evidence to show that this was a cost incurred at his second home, since
the only address on the bill related to his main home.
He should also provide mortgage interest statements to support payments totalling
£6,001.34 for the period April 2004 to January 2006. I recommend that he should
be allowed until 1 March 2010 to do this. If he does not do so, then in the absence
of any special or exceptional reasons to the contrary, he should repay the whole
amount of the allowance involved.

It must be emphasised that this information only applies to their use of the Additional Costs Allowance.
It is now time for Kevin Barron and Denis MacShane to provide their constituents with at least the same disclosure as John Healey, because it is our money they have spent and appear to have been taking liberties when it comes to claiming ACA.

Peter Thirwall said, "Denis MacShane has a lot of explaining to do", and " I am sure that everyone in Rotherham will be horrified at this and I feel he should stand down now, as labours candidate, before the election, it is that serious in my view"

We are saddened and upset by the greed throughout parliament and it strengthens our resolve to work harder to give the electorate a real choice at the General and local elections to come.

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