agent69
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Post by agent69 on Apr 28, 2021 19:00:57 GMT
I see that the watchdog is going to investigate the funding for the redecoration of the Prime ministers pad above No 11, amid frenzied media speculation concerning who paid for what. I admit to being a bit confused by the glare of publicity, given that the flat belongs to the taxpayer, so why does it matter who paid for it.
Got to admit it brings back memories of previous decorating scandals such as Gorbals Mick spending £1.7m refurbishing the speakers official residence (incluing luxury flock wall paper at several hundred quid a roll), and former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who claimed over £100k to decorate her midlands mansion while claiming that the spare bedroom in her sisters London house was her main residence.
Given that the official opposition get 30 minutes a week to ask the PM questions on major issues of the day, did Starmer score an own goal by trying to score cheap political points about the decorations rather than talking about the pandemic, Brexit or other more worthy topics?
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Apr 29, 2021 7:15:23 GMT
I see that the watchdog is going to investigate the funding for the redecoration of the Prime ministers pad above No 11, amid frenzied media speculation concerning who paid for what. I admit to being a bit confused by the glare of publicity, given that the flat belongs to the taxpayer, so why does it matter who paid for it. Because there are legal restrictions on who can donate what to political parties and to individual politicians without those donations being declared. Of course, if Johnson really did nothing wrong, then there's nothing to fear from the Electoral Commission investigating, right? It'll be simple to clear up, and his reputation will be enhanced not besmirched. And transparency is a good thing, isn't it? Across seven years. £700k on the house (which actually included £500k on the fabric of the building), £1m on "gardening" (minor detail: most was security). Includes state rooms where visiting dignitaries are met, unlike the Downing St flat which is entirely private residence. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/1583227/Michael-Martins-home-gets-1.7m-makeover.htmlIt was a large part of Martin resigning as Speaker. The wallpaper in the no10 flat is quoted as being £420/roll. The matching material on the sofa is £180/metre. www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ten-ways-to-recreate-carries-10-downing-street-decor-fjqd5vvk0And, if we're being snobbish about "John Lewis furniture"... ...don't you think it looks like a 1980s curry house?  A large part of the scandal over that was that "prisoners on day-release" did the decorating... except they were actually working for a community group on work experience... (And "mansion"? At the time it was a "£450k house in Redditch"... which was her constituency, of course - but if we're pointing at people's house prices, then... www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7730747/Boris-Johnson-sells-London-home-3-35m-400-000-asking-price.html) And, yes, she was found to have breached expenses rules (as were MANY MPs of all parties, if you think back to that dog-end of the Blair-Brown era) - but didn't have to repay anything (unlike many). It was a large part of why she resigned as Home Sec then lost her seat. And the expenses scandal was precisely why IPSA was set up. At the same time, Johnson's deputy at the GLA was given a 12-week suspended sentence and 100 hours of community service for fraud over his expenses... www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6309640/MPs-expenses-Jacqui-Smith-broke-rules-but-need-not-repay.htmlJohnson himself is, of course, still under investigation abut his mayoral expenses (isn't that right, Ms Arcuri?) The PM has an annual budget for decoration - £30k. This is alleged to have cost £200k+. Anything above that budget comes out of their own pocket. Let's not play down the context of the current allegations about cronyism in Covid contracts, and the emphasis on Cameron's links to Greensill... And let's not forget that it's not even two months since Johnson was being widely quoted as complaining about the "totally out of control" cost, how he couldn't possibly afford it, and was allegedly trying to set up a charity to fund it...? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-charity-no-10-flat-costs-b1810161.htmlAt the time, it was said he'd asked about party donors, but had been "advised against it". Yet here we are... As for Starmer - a bit of effective opposition would be nice, wouldn't it?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 29, 2021 10:33:50 GMT
Just can't get excited about this except that any "independent" investigation should be conducted at the request of the PM. It might sound like him marking his own homework but he is accountable to the electorate and we definitely don't want a situation where someone who isn't accountable can launch investigations based no doubt on some subjective criteria.
Buck must stop somewhere and in our country it should be the PM.
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Apr 29, 2021 11:13:22 GMT
Many years ago I worked in Redditch, and £450k would probably have bought half the town
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Apr 29, 2021 11:28:16 GMT
Oh, and speaking of investigations the PM did order. Remind me michaelc , where's the Russia report ? Maybe I missed it but AFAIK he's still sitting on it. Or at least he's ignored its recommendations given the multi-million waste of money press room was funded by Russian money if I recall the reports correctly. Or, indeed, the "Chatty Rat" leak enquiry.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Apr 29, 2021 12:16:06 GMT
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james100
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Post by james100 on Apr 29, 2021 13:09:02 GMT
It's the scandal with everything...easy headlines - "cash for curtains" - the question of whether his femme du jour is actually running the show...the dawning, horrifying reality that our PM is, anyway, just trying to run a show as opposed to our nation (who knew?). The man of the people shtick untangling over a bill for a sofa coming in at just shy of 20 grand. Carrie Antoinette: let them eat soft furnishings. The tax friendly anonymity friendly donor friendly dodgy friendly blind trust idea on speed dial (or text message). All wrapped up in Dominic Cummings and - for many parts of the country including mine - some elections in a matter of days. It's like a second rate political thriller that I would probably enjoy reading immensely. Except it's not fiction - it's the usual hypocrisy and fact-shy profligacy we've come to expect from him and unfortunately he's still the PM. Rishi needs to hurry up and take over IMHO.
Will the issue make a difference? I doubt it. Because this isn't the worst of him by a long shot. Did KS win any points by raising it? I also doubt it - he's too sanctimonious to be likable and too insipid to push the issue. Boris at PMQs on this was hilarious though, totally unhinged. But not angry with Starmer - he's an irrelevance...probably just peed off that the guy he shielded so strenuously last summer stabbed him in the back over a bunch of pleated chintz and his fiance's Laura Ashley style fetish.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Apr 29, 2021 13:29:03 GMT
Rishi needs to hurry up and take over IMHO. The 1922 are definitely sharpening the knives. But... if it goes to the party membership, Rishi has one mahoosive disadvantage.
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Post by captainconfident on Apr 29, 2021 14:20:43 GMT
The problem is, as said before, that this is a systemic problem. Because there are only two political parties that alternate in power (sometimes), people needing favours know who to bribe, how much and whether they will take it.
Unlike in a healthy and democratic system where new political parties with fresh ideas and fresh people can rise and the brain dead ones fall, the sclerotic two party system preserves these two dinosaurs no matter how bereft of ideas they have become, and rewards MPs with jobs for life with minimal effort or talent. In that time they get nicely networked in, and can link companies they also represent in to the general favourable treatment and tax money available.
And there is even a special reward for those who give the biggest bribes, being given the title Lord and an extra job for life being allowed to vote in the democratic process.
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IFISAcava
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Post by IFISAcava on Apr 29, 2021 14:37:09 GMT
The problem is, as said before, that this is a systemic problem. Because there are only two political parties that alternate in power (sometimes), people needing favours know who to bribe, how much and whether they will take it. Unlike in a healthy and democratic system where new political parties with fresh ideas and fresh people can rise and the brain dead ones fall, the sclerotic two party system preserves these two dinosaurs no matter how bereft of ideas they have become, and rewards MPs with jobs for life with minimal effort or talent. In that time they get nicely networked in, and can link companies they also represent in to the general favourable treatment and tax money available. And there is even a special reward for those who give the biggest bribes, being given the title Lord and an extra job for life being allowed to vote in the democratic process. Until we reform this outdated electoral system we will continue to get the politics and politicians we deserve.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2021 15:33:28 GMT
Climate Change Brexit Border in Irish Sea Scotland and independance Russian aggression Did I mention Climate Change Scottish fish Influence of the wealthy in news ownership Covid debt mountain Wealth tax Police Bill Non-doms still getting tax breaks London being centre of wealth hiding
.. . . . . . Curtains at number 11
If you cannot see the focus on curtains is to avoid talking about all of the above you are missing the point
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Post by moonraker on Apr 29, 2021 15:46:58 GMT
The new interior does look very garish, to the point of vulgarity. I can imagine Boris being anxious to please Carly but tearing out his hair as she ran up massive bills.
Leaving aside the alleged sleaze, did the very expensive redo itself cost the taxpayer anything? How much will the three inquiries cost us?
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JamesFrance
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Post by JamesFrance on Apr 29, 2021 15:55:23 GMT
All the guardian and supporters attacks seem to have the opposite effect to what they are hoping for. What was that old story about crying wolf?
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Steerpike
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Post by Steerpike on Apr 29, 2021 15:57:16 GMT
The new interior does look very garish, to the point of vulgarity. I can imagine Boris being anxious to please Carly but tearing out his hair as she ran up massive bills.
Leaving aside the alleged sleaze, did the very expensive redo itself cost the taxpayer anything? How much will the three inquiries cost us?
Where did you see the new interior?
Did I miss something?
I saw a few images that had been lifted from a website and presented as if they were number 11 but none of number 11 itself.
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Post by captainconfident on Apr 29, 2021 16:01:23 GMT
The new interior does look very garish, to the point of vulgarity. I can imagine Boris being anxious to please Carly but tearing out his hair as she ran up massive bills.
Leaving aside the alleged sleaze, did the very expensive redo itself cost the taxpayer anything? How much will the three inquiries cost us?
It's in the hands of the PM to save the money on these enquiries, if the he was honest enough to confirm what Cummings said and then said "it was a mistake that was quickly corrected". But doubling down and trying to cover up and make sure any enquiry is in friendly hands and only reports after the election. That is the modern way.
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