The website of Chris Mole was paid (at double the going rate) for by you and me, as taxpayers.

http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/chris-mole/Chris_Mole_0506_IEP.pdf

If you’re a Labour loyalist then this is a good deal, if you’re not then you’ve been robbed.

When one of the most prominent links on their website is to a scaremongering Labour website you can almost hear the refund cheque being written.  The office expenses are not for party political activity after all.

You then get some of the frankly bizarre poll questions that make you wonder if the author hasn’t been hired from the Chinese Communist Party Department of Very Fair One Sided Poll Questions.  Take this example:

“Do you agree that getting a university campus in Ipswich is a major triumph for the Labour Party in Ipswich”

How do you parody that question?  Remeber that you, not the Labour Party paid for that.

From beyond parody to the screaming subtext, how about this poll question:

“Do you think that local Tories and Liberals were vindictive to sack Labour councillor Phil Smart from the chair of Ipswich Buses for revealing cuts plans”

Now what would the publicly funded Chris Mole website, Ipswich Buses and Councillor Phil Smart all have in common?

I don’t know Ipswich Labour Party leader David Ellesmere, although he represents the next door Gipping ward.  He does have the reputation of being highly partisan, and so it’s good to see some sense coming through.

Councillor Ellesmere has attacked Ipswich council for an “unnecesary” meeting that cost £400.  And he’s got a point.  £400 to confirm a couple of appointments does seem a bit much.  And it’s good to see a Labour councillor, who supports a Labour government who believe in public waste as an economic policy to support some Tory type “cuts”. 

So in this bipartisanship, will we see him condemning Chris Mole for spending £5,227.95 on re-election propaganda?  Or how about funnelling £500 a month to the Labour Party?  Or would he be upset with spending £2,400 on a partisan Labour website?  Call me cynical but I think that Councillor Ellesmere’s only problem is that the taxpayer is not wasting enough money on the Ipswich Labour Party.

I’m all for politicans condemning public waste and as a good Catholic boy I know all about prodical sons so Labour politicians are particularly welcome on this crusade.  However let’s hold back on the praise until he holds his own side to account.