THE Reverend Alfred Ridley failed to pay an unjust increase in council tax by £63. For this he was sent to prison for 28 days and the story has been in many national newspapers.

Yet Bromsgrove District Council can confiscate taxpayers money to provide themselves with lucrative pensions and perhaps other benefits all done behind closed doors with the blessing of John Prescott's department.

M Hooper

Lickey End