In the Observer today Andrew Rawnsley writes on the spending cuts and the pain that is to come. There is one interesting quote from an unnamed Conservative minister:
"It is one of the easiest cries in opposition to shout: "Cull the quangos." That is proving hard to do even for such reflexive quango-cullers as Tories. One Conservative minister says: "At first glance, you think: that can go. Then you take another look and you find that a lot of these organisations exist for a purpose." (my emphasis)
Indeed, a lot of these quangos and 'fake charities' exist purely to oversee implementation - and to monitor - the enactment of EU directives and regulations. The fact that our toy government cannot dispense with their services is but another example of how we are no longer a self-governing nation. It also shows another deficit - that of the ability of our ministerial politicians, in that if they actually knew and consequently had any expertise in their briefs, they would not need the vast array of 'advisers' and 'advisory' bodies.
5 comments:
Indeed, a lot of these quangos and 'fake charities' exist purely to oversee implementation - and to monitor - the enactment of EU directives and regulations.
Got it in one, WfW.
We expected the worst but hoped for the best when this govt was 'elected' Mr W. It's a good job we didn't raise our expectations too high.
It's really politicians and their hangers=on who need to be severely culled.
As you highlight, it is said "a lot of these organisations exist for a purpose".
This implies that equally well there are many that don't. As the previous government didn't get rid of them, why hasn't this government?
Once they have done that (say this week), they can then consider whether the "purpose" of the others is necessary.
Quangos are clearly like my loft. Everything is stored up there for a purpose, but as I haven't been up in the loft for a couple of years, and I haven't been in the darker corners for maybe twenty years, it doesn't seem that their purpose can be particularly important.
Quangos are the same; they are there for a purpose and most have remained untouched and not serving any real purpose for many years. Unlike my junk, which wil cost me money to get rid of, Quangos cost money to keep!
JH, thanks
GV, Hate to say I told you so....I seem to recall that when I criticized early on you told me to give Cameron the benefit of the doubt?????
OR, cud not agree more.
EP, too true.
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