Ed Milliband's Presidential-Style Entourage Trip To Israel And West Bank.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608699/Revolt-Ed-Milibands-20k-bill-army-aides-trip-Middle-East.html

£20,000 of public money taking a 12-strong delegation on jolly to Israel and West Bank, money well spent?

But apart from that can anyone tell me why these Party leaders have to take their spouses along with them? it is them who are elected not their other halves.

Business men or women don't take their partners when on business trips and neither do the armed forces when they are away for six months.

[weecalf]

He going to these places cause he ain't going to number ten

[emmie]

actually he might be going to number 10, courting votes perhaps with this visit, see what a nice guy i am kind of thing.

[Gromit]

// jolly to West Bank //

I like it when you unintentionally funny.

[emmie]

doubt there is much to be jolly about in the West Bank.

[emmie]

some men take their mistresses, does that count, going on an old boss of mine, i know because i had to do the expenses, plus he was stupid enough to talk about it.

[anotheoldgit]

emmie

/// doubt there is much to be jolly about in the West Bank. ///

Seems jolly enough to me.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/20/article-0-1D35480A00000578-321_638x643.jpg

[Gromit]

It's one of those upside down Daily Mail reports where they put the most important line at the bottom instead of the top.

// 'All those from Labour on the trip were funded from the leader’s office in the normal way.’ //

[emmie]

i haven't been there i confess, but i reckon it's not a place to have a nice holiday

[emmie]

why does he strike these idiotic poses

[scooping]

Quite agree. But it wasn't tax-payers money was it? Guess if the money comes from elsewhere it's their business.

[emmie]

why did his missus have to go, and a dozen people, for what purpose, irrespective of the cost

[scooping]

It's an interesting facet of British politics that for decades the Conservative Party and the Foreign Office have been seen as pro-Arab yet if you look at the size of the membership of Conservative Friends of Israel it amounts to a majority of Tory MPs. The same is true of Labour. Whether that is to do with conviction, the constant desire for junkets or the continual need to raise Party funds is an matter of debate. It is not a racist point to say that lobbyists for Israel are among the most important and effective in Westminster. Miliband just playing the game.

[Gromit]

// why did his missus have to go //

Part of the trip was personal. They visited some of Miliband's relatives including his Aunt.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100267566/ed-milibands-trip-to-israel-was-an-important-personal-journey-he-has-rediscovered-his-jewish-identity/

[Gromit]

And there is a General Election in a years time, so to be seen as a Friend of Israel won't do him any harm in the eyes of the quarter of a million Jews who live in the UK. Unlike Cameron wh has rather kept his distance from Israel, waiting four years into his Premiership before making a visit.

[emmie]

he is seen sitting with Palestinians as well, so is this some sort of peace offering, if he becomes PM, will he try and get this age old conflict settled
if so good luck with that

[emmie]

that was my suggestion before, that it won't harm him come the election

[237SJ]

Some businessmen do take their partners on business trips. Their cost of travel is paid for by their company and they fork out for a ticket for the partner. Most major hotels don`t charge for an extra person to share the room on a corporate rate either, so it`s a cheap trip for the partner/family member.

[237SJ]

Also, if the businessman/woman travels a lot, the chances are that they have used their air miles for the spare ticket so it costs nothing at all.

[emmie]

i did suggest mistress, as in having a wife at home.

[Farriercm]

I suppose Cameron, has taken his wife on holiday with him, along with a few security guards etc .