The SNP getting drunk on a plane? Surely not. The Scots are known for their sobriety. Still, it does take the attention away from all the sordid stories coming to light regarding Tory M.P.'s little jobs on the side to supplement their incomes. You cannot blame them - I mean, who can live on £84,000 a year in this day and age, even if you do only buy Waitrose Essential range?
The problems really began when they decided that M.P.s should be paid. Previously you had to be wealthy enough to have a private income in order to represent your constituency, and most M.P.s owned most their constituency anyway, so no problems there.
Those were the days when the House of Lords really served a useful purpose by keeping a lid on some of the more extreme bills to go through to the upper house. Hereditary peers then lost their entitlement and the traditional last act of all outgoing Prime Ministers was to ennoble as many of their mates as decently possible. Some P.M.s don't even bother to wait until they are leaving Number 10, and become guests of the new peers on their private islands when they should be in the office tackling the biggest problems that Britain has faced since WW2, leaving ill-informed junior ministers to answer difficult questions while they lounge around next to one of two swimming pools at their disposal.
Now Prince Charles's old friend and closest advisor - Michael Fawcett - has fallen foul of the latest craze to seek out sleaze by accepting £2 million from a Saudi tycoon in exchange for a knighthood. The money was not going to him, of course, but to the Prince's charitable trust, though that did not stop the forced resignation from a job he has held for decades.
Michael Fawcett began working in the palace as a footman - presumably standing silently around dressed in white stockings and a wig (do they still do that on normal days?) - but quickly rose up to become a figure who Prince Charles described as 'someone who he could not do without'.
I think it is sad, particularly for Charles. The poor bloke was lonely enough as it is. There are rumours that it was Camilla who insisted that Fawcett should go, but that just could be the press beginning a fresh campaign against another female member of the household. You just can't tell these days.
There is definitely a lot of shenanigans today. People have their so called tribe and support each other to the end. I also agree, it can be difficult to decipher the actions (or lack thereof) of others.
ReplyDeleteBritish politics are going through an all-time low.
DeleteI reckon it's always been going on, we were just oblivious to it and they've got less and less careful. I mean if one were a crooked politician and saw Trump in the US, and Johnson in the UK and people supporting them, I can imagine one would think, oh well, anything goes really.
DeleteI think in the past it could have been even worse, but never has it been so blatant. Boris Johnson has such a huge majority that he feels he can do/not do whatever he likes, but the back-benchers could bite him on the arse.
DeleteInteresting post!
ReplyDeleteA small aside..since the 1970s, all Plaid Cymru and SNP MPs have to give up any other jobs and incomes completely... including not passing them on to friends and family....
Interesting! I didn't know that.
DeleteI like camilla , I hope she is as no no nonsense as she seems
ReplyDeleteI once bought one ton of stone from Camilla when she lived at Bowden Hill, Lacock. No no no nonsense.
DeleteI doubt if there was so much less (can one say that? oxymoron?) shenanigans in The Olden Days - I believe we hear/read/watch more of it by an "investigating" press, Internet etc.
ReplyDeleteYes, but as I said to MrsC, it has never been so blatant. B.J. has a huge majority and thinks he can do what he likes.
DeleteSad thing it is all blown up by the press, but do any of them ever face criminal charges?
ReplyDeleteOnly the ones who have committed a criminal act, and sometimes not even them. It is a culture which is developing through a growing disrespect for parliament amongst people who are only there through a craving for power. I hope their back-benchers get rid of them before we lose too much more respect from our neighbours. Ironically, for a power-crazed leadership they have produced a very weak government.
DeleteBy his own stupidity Johnson has dug this hole for himself and everyone in Parliament. If Paterson had merely served his 30 days it could have been the end of it. In answer to Thelma, nobody is committing a criminal act as things stand, and all parties have MPs doing consultancy work including Starmer. This is a total stupidity on Johnson's part. He is no good as a leader, doesn't listen to advice and then caves in. Personally I think that restricting MPs to nothing more than being MPs is a bad thing, you just end up with professional politicians.
DeleteThat's exactly what I think. We have had enough of career politicians.
DeleteWith one caveat - no cash for favours and don't spend more time on your private work than you do on your constituents.
DeleteYes, that goes without saying.
DeleteIt doesn't have to be a criminal act to be seen as an unacceptable way for politicians to behave. I doubt people would be bothered by the odd bit of work on the side but the sums of money are huge and being an MP is now seen as a way to get rich rather than a way to serve the people - which is not what they would have us believe when they are seeking election. Especially when the tax payer is footing the bill and the less well off are expected to live on even less. The hole Johnson is digging always seems to have a cushion at the bottom and a ladder to dig himself out!
ReplyDelete