I HAVE just read your piece about the response of the leader of Malvern Hills District Council, Councillor David Hughes, to Chris Bocock's payment of £170,000 (Malvern Gazette, December 5).

He attacks Tom Wells, the Liberal Democrat group leader, for his leaking of the outrageously generous payment, accusing Mr Wells of simply wishing to score political points.

I can understand this accusation since, as a Conservative, Councillor Hughes has probably long forgotten the concept of honest and transparent engagement with the public he is supposed to serve.

Councillor Hughes then appears to downplay the payment, by stating that "the actual direct cost to local Malvern is £17,360" adding the rest will be paid by the "Government's Transformation Fund."

The people of Malvern are also payers of income tax, VAT, etc, so the Government's share of this unnecessary generosity is also being paid for as much by Malvern's people as anyone else.

This is precisely the kind of cronyism and profligacy UKIP's Nigel Farage has spoken out against, as it represents an abuse of public funds.

I await a Freedom of Information request about what the council was legally obliged to pay Chris Bocock.

Will Richards

Malvern