Hypocrisy (From Penarth Times)

Hypocrisy

THE HYPOCRISY of the Conservatives never ceases to amaze me.

They rightly attack the ill conceived and rushed reorganisation of the health authorities into 22 organisations that are likely to increase rather than reduce bureaucracy in the health service Plaid Cymru agree totally that Labour's strategy is likely to cause further health turmoil.

But it was the Conservatives who also started it all, when they rearranged the eight county councils into 22 'unitary' councils in 1996.

I believe they did so for one reason only - not improved effectiveness, but to break what they saw as the power of the then county councils. What we have now is small and ineffective councils.

The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil and Anglesey are organisations that have little power, less vision, and which form a convenient scapegoat to blame for increases in local taxation.

Alwyn Evans Press Officer Penarth Plaid Cymru Chandlers Way Penarth