The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

Link: Sir John Bourn, guardian of the public purse. In three years he’s run up bills of £365k on travel and £27k on meals. Then there’s opera, grand prix, polo … | Whitehall | Guardian Unlimited Politics.

I confidently expect this to be one of my more unpopular posts.

As Comptroller of the National Audit Office, Sir John Bourn has responsibility for overseeing the expenditure of almost half the money earned in Britain every year. His is a vital job. Parliament has been castrated by the Executive. HM Opposition is too concerned not to be seen as the "Nasty Party" to focus on cost controls. Therefore, his office is our only line of defence against the reckless squandering by Ministers (often for political rather than national ends) of many billions of hard-earned, viciously-taxed pounds.

His is a responsible job and should be done by a high quality individual. He should be as well paid as anyone and able to deal on equal terms with the most powerful in the land. Indeed he should be feared by all, especially Ministers.  If a company which has dealings with the government invites him to lunch at the Ritz to discuss government tenders, is he to decline the invitation? Of course not. If he accepts it, should he reciprocate the hospitality later? If he didn’t, journalists would make dark hints about his being bought off. Is he then to reciprocate by taking the directors concerned to his staff canteen?

I wonder if taking his wife on government trips was really wise. I travel a lot in my work and sometimes take my wife, but always pay for her flights personally. However, I cannot see that the criticism of Sir John’s class of travel or level of entertainment expenditure is sensible. When Ministers travel first class, the beleaguered taxpayers can consider it an economy measure, given the taste some of them have for treating the RAF as a minicab service. Ministers, other than in the great offices of State, should show respect for their "shareholders" by travelling business class at competitive rates, but the Comptroller General should be the peoples’ most valued servant. He should enjoy all the pay and every perk necessary to attract and retain a candidate of the highest calibre.

If Sir John does his job properly, his expenses are the merest trifle. The more interesting question is whether he does. Wat Tyler would be better able to comment on that. I merely observe that when someone in an oversight role comes under attack, intelligent observers should be suspicious as to why. Perhaps he is an extravagant fool with no sense of irony. Perhaps, however, someone, somewhere is briefing against him because he is doing his job properly? Certainly, no Minister will ever attack him for doing it badly.