Starmer To Clean Up Politics Once Labour Gets In To Power

[Hymie]

Starmer recently said ‘We need to clean up politics...no more kickbacks for colleagues, no more revolving doors between government and companies they regulate...a total crackdown on cronyism’.

 

Starmer’s House of Commons register of interests shows that last year he personally received 18 free tickets to 6 premier league football games, 4 tickets to Capital Radio’s Jingle Bell ball, 4 tickets to a Coldplay concert (plus £937 in hotel stays paid for by Hut Group founder Matthew Mouldings), a private box for 4 at the Derby, and a £4,500 holiday in Wales (same old, same old).

Info. courtesy of Private Eye

[ichkeria]

"Even if the gift was Coldplay tickets?"

Fair point Roy.

I'd give those away to someone I was hoping to corrupt: or drive round the bend 

[andy-hughes]

Retrocop - I appear not to be making my point clear.

The system has been in place for centuries - politicians are given gifts of various types, with the clear and obvious reason being the expectation of repayment in terms of political influence.

No one is under any illusions about how and why this system operates,  politicians and givers operate it on a daily basis.

In order to pretend that this is not the sleazy and venal corruption that it clearly is, there is a nominal 'Register Of Members' Interests' where the most obvious and easily traced exchanges are declared, to give the impression that everything is all above board, and we all pretend that it is.

Now I accept that, because it's how things are.

But what I don't accept, is a politician who clearly uses the system, making stupid political capital by expecting the electorate to believe that, not only is he not part of the system, which he is, but he is going to 'cleanse' the system, which is assuming that he electorate are both naive, and congenitaly stupid.

Some are, but most are not.

[Hymie]

I work for a FTSE100 company that has strict guidelines on such bribes.

 

Whilst in some cultures gifts may be given and to refuse the offered gift considered an insult; employees are permitted to accept a gift of up to around £20 – and should be notified to the employee’s boss.

 

Why not similarly limit the value of MPs gifts; why can Starmer accept a gift valued at £4,500 but not me?

[newmodarmy]

Ask your employer why their limit is £20 and why it can't be £4500.

For once i see your point though. I can see a case for saying that no gifts should be accepted since there could be accusations, just as there were with Johnson and Jenrick

[THECORBYLOON]

HYMIE, if your employers allowed it and you received a free holiday worth £4,500, if you had to follow your company's current process, how would I find out about it?

[andy-hughes]

There is a world of difference between receiving a cultural gift to avoid offence, which can be documented, and getting Coldplay tickets from a UK company on the make.

[Hymie]

In the company’s anti-bribery policy, it clearly states that gifts should not be accepted, if some consideration is expected in return.

Why is it acceptable to bribe our MPs but not an employee of a FTSE100 company?

[newmodarmy]

That's a loaded question- a bit of 'when did you stop beating your wife?'

[andy-hughes]

It's not acceptable to bribe our MP"s, or indeed our government ministers, but that doesn't stop it going on.

[THECORBYLOON]

HYMIE, if you have evidence of MPs being bribed, you should contact the police immediately.

[andy-hughes]

Newmodel - No it's not that at all.

The famous question is often used because it is unanswerable, and much like the 'Shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theatre ' comment, it gets misused when it appears to support a point of view, but actually doesn't.