The Welsh Labour Government has been urged to open up local authorities to public scrutiny after the UK Government today published new guidance on the right to report, film and tweet council meetings in England.

In a letter to Labour’s Local Government Minister, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP, warned of the ‘gulf between what local taxpayers, bloggers and journalists can do in England and Wales.’

Eric Pickles also expressed concerns that ‘freedom of speech in Wales is being suppressed, and as a result, waste, corruption and incompetence is potentially being covered up.’

Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said, "As the Conservative-led Coalition makes further steps towards increased openness and transparency in local government, under Labour Wales is being left behind.

"Opening up council expenditure and meetings to public scrutiny is the best way to root out waste and avoid corrupt and inappropriate behaviour.

"In recent months in Caerphilly Council we’ve seen the scandalous wrongdoing that can occur when meetings are held in secret with the bumper pay increases that senior staff awarded themselves.

"In an age of voter apathy, we should be making council meetings more accessible by encouraging engagement, live tweeting and web-broadcasting of all council meetings.

"I fail to understand why the Welsh Labour Government continues to defend keeping taxpayers in the dark about their elected representatives making decisions in their name with their money.

"Welsh Labour Ministers must move out the dark ages and allow the Welsh public to better engage in local democracy."