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Post by MAT on Jan 28, 2018 14:09:17 GMT
My paper this morning is reporting on a sting set up by Channel Four and The Sunday Times, involving Peter Lilley, David Mitchell, and Lord Langley. Mitchell is renowned as the Plebgate politician and is still an MP, and influential in Tory circles, while Lord Lansley was Minister of Health in the Cameron cabinet, and sits in the House of Lords. Lilley has been in the Tory cabinet in various positions in the past, but is no longer an MP, and not yet a lord. Still a person with contacts and influence though.
The sting took the form of an approach to various politicians by C4 and ST, posing as a Chinese company looking for advice on dealing with businesses in Europe and thE UK, to take advantage of uncertainties arising from thevBrexit situation.
Some they approached declined lto meet, but the 3 mentioned did agree to meetings,which were secretly filmed. Videos of parts of the meetings are viewable Online. To me, all three set themselves up as guns for hire, at £5000, £6000, and £10000 per day, though I am no expert in what is allowable under House of Commons or House of Lords rules, or in the rules for former ministers no longer in Parliament. The crux will be whether any lines have lines have been crossed. I shall be keeping my eyes on this in the coming weeks as I’m fed up of these “Cash For. .......” issues involving our elected and former elected representatives. It is hard to imagine C4 and ST releasing the vids if they are uncertain of their ground.
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Post by whitesince63 on Jan 28, 2018 19:38:29 GMT
Complete non programme and it's time politically biased broadcasters like this, purposely trying to implicate committed and honest people, were charged themselves. They hide behind this ridiculous "public interest" excuse when it is predominantly very much against that. Well done to the three politicians involved for acting responsibly and making the programme makers look completely stupid.
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Post by thegrud1 on Jan 28, 2018 20:05:57 GMT
Politicians are elected to serve the public interest...NOT LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS and take advantage of the position WE PUT THEM IN !
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Post by whitesince63 on Jan 29, 2018 14:13:37 GMT
Come on grud, we'd all like to think that's true but we all know in today's world, professional politicians are in it mainly for the bounce they can earn on top of their salaries. I have no problem with that since it can keep them involved in the outside world but only so long as it doesn't interfere with their primary role.
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Post by thegrud1 on Jan 29, 2018 16:12:00 GMT
*******but the 3 mentioned did agree to meetings,which were secretly filmed. Videos of parts of the meetings are viewable Online. To me, all three set themselves up as guns for hire, at £5000, £6000, and £10000 per day,****** you think £5000-£10000 PER DAY ! may not cloud their judgement?  ? |
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Post by whitesince63 on Jan 30, 2018 10:45:44 GMT
There are consultants operating in virtually every industry in this country every day being paid silly amounts of money for their advice about things that frankly, many of them have no experience in. Paying these amounts for proven expertise sounds entirely logical in my view to guide you towards your end goal, as long as that does not involve those chosen in anything illegal or against the public interest, I see no problem with it. None of the three did anything wrong in my opinion and the programme was an embarrassment for Channel 4 and should have been shelved, not shown.
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Post by MAT on Jan 30, 2018 17:14:10 GMT
Complete non programme and it's time politically biased broadcasters like this, purposely trying to implicate committed and honest people, were charged themselves. They hide behind this ridiculous "public interest" excuse when it is predominantly very much against that. Well done to the three politicians involved for acting responsibly and making the programme makers look completely stupid.
Anyway, there are clear guidelines laid down about what is permitted by Lords, MPs and former MPs, not to speak of red lines, and I believe a proper investigation is appropriate and necessary. At the very least I find it distasteful that an MP is boasting that his constituents don’t care about the money he is earning outside Parliament, only the time he spends on extra curricular. How does he know? How many has he asked?
I also find it distasteful that one of the other two is suggesting routing any payment he might be due via his wife’s company so it can be kept hidden from scrutiny.
Finally, yes we all know that a lot of politicians are in politics for ‘the bounce’ (bunce presumably?), but that doesn’t make it acceptable ,does it? Let’s face it , these men are using the influence and contacts they’ve developed from public office, employed by you and me, to line their pockets. If Tony Blair deserves opprobrium for the way he has conducted himself after leaving office, then so do these three. It’s not OK with me , anyway. Carry on the good work, Sunday Times and Channel Four! |
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