Quote of the day
“Really, what on earth did they think they were doing?”
- Alistair Darling, speaking on the Andrew Marr show, as cabinet ministers condemn former colleagues who were secretly filmed apparently offering to try to influence government policy in return for cash. In the Channel 4 and Sunday Times film, Stephen Byers reportedly says he will try to change policy for up to £5,000 a day and is like a “cab for hire”. Patricia Hewitt allegedly says she would need up to £3,000. Both firmly deny any wrongdoing. In the case of Stephen Byers, the former trade and industry minister told an investigative reporter that he had secured secret deals with ministers, could get confidential information from Number 10 and was able to help firms involved in price fixing get around the law. He also suggested bringing clients to meet former Prime Minister Tony Blair, the investigators claim. The next day Byers retracted his claims, saying he had “never lobbied ministers on behalf of commercial interests” and had exaggerated his influence. (full story HERE)
I have already put this as a comment on another blog dealing with this matter; I thought it was quite good I suspect no one else will but what hell here goes anyway.
So when the piggies are caught with their noses in one trough they just move onto another one. This little piggy went to the Commons, this little piggy went to the Lords, this little piggy went to the Lobby, no little piggy had none and all the little piggies went money, money, money all the way home.
“Really, what on earth did they think they were doing?”
The same thing as Tony, their Leader, but without the access to high-value baubles like Knighthoods or Peerages.
The answer surely being:’What they’ve done many, many times before without getting caught…’
Steven Byers has a lot of form for this. Frankly he could not convince me that water is wet and if he told me it was raining, I would go to a window and check for myself.
Caught like naughty children with their hands in the sweet jar, they still profess their “innocence”.
This government is, perhaps, in one respect, the finest in our history.
The best government money can buy…
And it has been bought!
I wonder if after these revelations, it might be wise to see if anyone has personally gained from the demise of Railtrack. For example, which companies have picked up commercial contracts with the newly nationalised Network Rail. Any Labour donors there, or has Byers accepted any work from those companies?
Another event that might also need looking at again might be the deals done over Rover, Byers was involved there too if I recall correctly.
If a police officer if found to be corrupt, it is normal to review all of his career for evidence of wrongdoing. So should it be with Byers and the others.
I find it difficult to engage with with story as I strongly suspect these idiots have no influence whatsoever and are simply trying to spin a few thousand out of some mugs for nothing. Damage to democracy: nil.
Like Blair is going to do Byers any favours for a couple of grand. Laughable. Surely its a six figure sum just to get him out bed these days.
Yeah, fancy allowing themselves to get caught on camera. How careless. Might damage the election campaign.