Now that is interesting. The local municipalities (that's what we call them in Canada) that I deal with regard such terms as evidence that the company in question is dodgy. Any company that tries to have something like this inserted in a contract is regarded with great skepticism, and is generally the last to be chosen as a supplier.

Of course you Brits do things differently, driving on the left and all, so maybe this is normal over 'ome.


Not a bad bit of work Mark - it'll be interesting to follow this. However, describing socitm as "a private public sector consulting firm" is misleading as it is a profesional association more akin to a union than than a commercial organisation. Members of socitm are elected to the various positions so while the Newham COI may currently be vice president, it is not a permenent or, afaik, a paid or salaried position.

While I think it was, at the very least, disingenuious of Richard Steele to claim that the MOU is confidential when it is not, misrepresenting his position within socitm, and socitm itself, doesn't do your article any good either.

This is an interesting story where someone is not telling the full truth and I hope you pursue it further.

The studies were performed by Socitm, a private public sector consulting firm of which Newham COI Steele is a vice president. the INQUIRER will report on these findings in due course.
What a farce, so he found a way to justify spending public money on his own company. I wonder if there was a tender for which company should do the studies at all. It is so in our faces and we still take the crap from them while they openly steel from our taxes.
Well, what is one to do if one feels that one is above the law.

How can a government department be asked to promote MS? Given that they have a duty to the public, such a lack of impartiality would maybe find favour with Tony Blair (remember him being at an MS launch?) but would IMHO be in blatant conflict with their main duties.

In addition, one MS MOU not an expert maketh - it is not said that the "solution(*)" in Newham would fit anyone else. As a matter of fact, it didn't seem to fit Newham either..

(*) As someone who had to repeatedly bail out MS from such "solutions" in a past life I have yet to develop any respect for their capability..

Ere 'ang on. So the taxpayer pays for something and doesnt get to even read it?
There can be no such thing as Commercial Confidentiality in government, only corruption.

Brown envelope city, jesus f*cking christ WTF. FFS Do as I say NOT as I do LOL. Gotta get away from this place Oz seems the only place left.