Rotten Borough Reality - Democratic Transparency Optional Extra in Swindon

Swindon Borough Council has refused to name the Swindon Borough Councillor who was taken to court for not paying their council tax, with the now legendary quote that "we would not release the details of a member of the public in such circumstances". They then say that they consider a councillor has the same right to privacy.

It appears they have no legal leg to stand on, as other local authorities have named councillors under the same circumstances. Meanwhile the dismissive attitude of SBC on a matter of transparency when councillors should be held to a greater level of moral integrity than anyone else in the town shows just how far things have fallen in the rotten borough.

So, like the Swindon Advertiser (which gets top marks for some quality local political coverage), Swindon Centric says : Give us the name.