Spending watchdog ran up £4.8m bill for hotels and used taxpayers' cash to fund gay rights workshop for staff

Daily Mail
"A public spending watchdog lavished millions of pounds on entertaining, staff parties and fine dining for its managers, it was revealed yesterday.Events funded by the Audit Commission for its staff included a gay rights workshop, a Christmas party at an exclusive restaurant and a ‘conflict management’ course.The quango also paid £10,000 to sponsor a book to be published by the Smith Institute, a charity with links to Gordon Brown which was criticised in a Charity Commission investigation for allowing itself to appear too political. More money went on landscaping the grounds around the commission’s offices and a ‘stakeholder briefing’ at a golf and country club."