District councillor Eileen Wragg writes for the Journal.

Much of the headline news in recent weeks has been about possible abuses of power by prominent politicians in national Government. If proven to be true, they will have serious consequences for those involved.

With allegations of sleaze and cover-ups, they not only damage the reputations of the potential offenders, but tend to tarnish those of others who have unblemished records of public service, often leading to comments like ‘they’re all the same’ and ‘you can’t trust any of them’.

The trouble is that others become embroiled in the tangle of tales and innuendo, such as civil servants and in local Government, Officers of Councils.

A few years ago, there was a town clerk who, when things weren’t going his way, accused certain elected councillors of bullying, which was blatantly untrue, unfair to the councillors concerned and quite honestly, disgraceful conduct from someone who was in a powerful and very well paid position.

Not too long afterwards, the said clerk left with a shedload of money and a reference, and is very probably wreaking revenge in his current workplace on anyone who dares to question him, or who disagrees with his ways of working, which involves handling serious financial sums.

There are, however, honest, committed politicians who become involved in their communities because they care.

I know that they are genuine in serving their constituents, not for what they can get out of the system.

I am fortunate enough to work with some of them. Unfortunately, they are often struggling against a system which is unsupportive of them, whilst at the same time, they are trying to help other people.

So the potential malpractice in Government, if exposed as true, will be explosive.

Those of us in Local Government will feel some of the fallout and possible backlash, but my colleagues and I would welcome it. Wrongdoing by those we trust must be revealed, and not tolerated, and must be flushed out at all levels.