Huge errors in Cumbria County Council’s (CCC) accounts have been found by the Government’s Audit Commission. Officers checking the figures have discovered that gross expenditure for 2007-8 was over estimated by £53m, Income from fees and charges was £131m less than the accounts showed, but income from Government grants was £78m more than the council thought.

This is the second year in a row that the CCC accounts have contained serious errors, and in truth, it is nothing more than a reflection of the Councils performance in general, according to Clive Jefferson, Cumbrian BNP Press Officer.

The Conservatives control CCC, but only with the backing of some Lib-Dems. That alliance looks set to collapse this week after County council leader Tim Stoddard (Tory) ordered his deputy, Joan Stocker (Lib/Dem), to be relieved of her responsibilities – sacking her via an abrupt email on Saturday, blaming her for the current crisis, prompting a furious Lib Dem reaction.

Joan Stocker is claiming that the Tories have made her a scapegoat for their incompetence and a bitter dispute is still raging with some Conservatives voicing doubts about Stoddard’s “knee jerk” reaction that might very well see the Conservatives lose control of the County just ten months before the vital county elections.

All 32 Conservative councillors have been summoned to a group meeting in Carlisle where they will be asked to endorse Stoddard’s decision to strip Stocker of her office. Stoddard refuses reverse his decision and has told his colleagues “back me or sack me.”

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that Stocker be reinstated and receives an “unequivocal apology”. More talks between the two parties are scheduled but if the Conservatives back Stoddard, the power-sharing arrangement looks doomed. If, on the other hand, councillors agree to reinstate Mrs Stocker, Mr Stoddard is expected to resign.

Whatever the outcome the simple facts remain – Cumbria County Council is in a state of crisis and after watching this debacle unfold this week its very clear why CCC are one of the worst performing councils in the country.

Not a good week to be a County Councillor in Cumbria! Just to add an extra dimension Cumbria BNP are in the process of copying sections of the accounts to scrutinise (Every council in England must “open its books” for inspection once a year).

We have been “pointed in the right direction” by fellow Patriots and apparently our enquiries are causing certain people sleepless nights. All findings will of course be published!

As the nation finally looks set to totally reject New Labour, the above, long term gross mismanagement of the largest county in England is a timely reminder that just because they are not New Labour, it doesn’t mean that Cameron’s “pink” Tories will do any better.

It’s time for a new approach, new people and a new direction, its time for the British National Party to start repairing decades of liberal decay.

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