The BBC lawyers wouldn't let us talk about this on the Nolan Show paper review last night. I'm less squeamish.
The Telegraph's lead front page article concerns the expenses of former Labour MP Frank Cook. They accuse him of claiming (twice over!) for goods bought in the United States by his Laotian wife Pricess Somsangouane Baldinger, who lives there. They also reveal that he has been asked to repay £1,444.09 claimed in 2007-8.
All grist for the mill. Some may wonder whether this story would have been on the front page had Mr Cook not instigated court proceedings against the Telegraph for their previous story concerning him, when they accused him of submitting a £5 claim for a donation made at a church service to commemorate the Battle of Britain. If he did indeed do that, he deserves all the opprobrium that can be heaped upon him.
One thing this shows is that if anyone thinks the expenses scandal is behind us, they should think again.
Shame really. If Cook had only lived with another man instead he would have had a better excuse and you would have glossed over it and awarded him hero status.
ReplyDeleteWhat it actually shows is how pathetically inept and unskilled our politicians are at leadership.
ReplyDeleteThis scandal has been handled so badly by all parties, the costs of "dealing" with it are so Kafkaesque as to be laughable if it wasn't even more of our money they were p*ssing up the wall.
Oh what an open goal there is for a party leader to show some real leadership/management skills on this issue and you know, really actually understand the problem and solve it ( by the way the solution is so simple, it's pathetic that they can't do it)
Sadly our political leaders are all professional politicians and therefore don't have any real leadership or management experience so as usual haven't got a clue what to actually do so manage by PR and sound bite.
What it actually shows is how pathetically inept and unskilled our politicians are at leadership.
ReplyDeleteThis scandal has been handled so badly by all parties, the costs of "dealing" with it are so Kafkaesque as to be laughable if it wasn't even more of our money they were p*ssing up the wall.
Oh what an open goal there is for a party leader to show some real leadership/management skills on this issue and you know, really actually understand the problem and solve it ( by the way the solution is so simple, it's pathetic that they can't do it)
Sadly our political leaders are all professional politicians and therefore don't have any real leadership or management experience so as usual haven't got a clue what to actually do so manage by PR and sound bite.
"........if anyone thinks the expenses scandal is behind us......"
ReplyDeleteSince when were you eligible for parliamentary expenses, Iain?
Also, Iain I would love more explanation of this free Viagra you keep getting on the NHS.
ReplyDelete(sorry had to mention that after hearing the review last night :) )
A big "Yes" for opprobrium.
ReplyDelete