A great day to bury bad news!

While we're on the subject of MP finances, the Tories have taken a very cynical view of the government and its attempts to bury bad news - such as MP wages and expenses rising by 5.5% or the 8% rise in the cost of private cars by government ministers last year.  The tax payer can also expect to give our hard working MPs a salary rise for next year.  In fact, just as parliament went in to recess yesterday for their long, long summer break (the sort the rest of us - except teachers - can only dream of) the government spurted out 76 announcements to the Commons.  All in the space of 48 hours!

Other announcement included Tony Blair's goodbye knees up with a bunch of c-list celebrities at Chequers all paid for by you and me; the confirmation that Menwith Hill, the US listening base in Yorkshire, was to be used for the US missile defence programme; overseas travel by cabinet ministers showed eight out of 29 trips to Brussels used Eurostar, with the rest involving flying; the list goes on:

• A new C-17 transport plane has been ordered to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary, Des Browne, announced. It follows a critical report by the Commons Defence Committee.

• MPs allowances cost the taxpayer £95m, a rise of 5.5 per cent over the year.

• The report of the Senior Salaries Review Body on MPs' pay and allowances has been handed to the Prime Minister. Ministerial car travel increased by 8 per cent last year.

• Gordon Brown appointed the Labour Party chairman and Leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, as the Secretary of State for Equality, responsible for a new Equalities Office at cabinet level.

• Paul Myners, who gave two cash donations to Gordon Brown's campaign to become leader, has been appointed to his fourth government post as chairman of the personal accounts delivery unity.

• Plans for nine new unitary councils have been announced and the abolition of more than 25 district or county councils across the country.

• Child support agency figures show there are £3.5bn worth of outstanding payments this year.

• The Government supports a proposal to allow e-petitions to Parliament. They will have to be sponsored by MPs.

Incredible! And all too much to take in, in such a short period of time.  By the time Gordon and his mates get back in to the Commons it will be October and all this will be forgotten.  Gordon Brown stands for no spin and transparent government?  Nonsense!