Politicians Must Choose Their Friends Better
P.J. O’Rourke, who is no lover of politicians, once said.
Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.
It is a test that should not just be applied to politicians, but to their friends and donors as well.
Today in the Times we have two stories about people wanting to influence politics.
The first is about the troubles of the Labour Party and their relationship with the Co-operative movement. It contains this classic quote from, a Tory MP; Brooks Newmark.
The toxic element of a great ethical institution like the Co-operative is the way the Labour Party has effectively infiltrated it and infected it because of the benefits they have been receiving from it. The only way the Labour Party could get a loan if it didn’t have the Co-operative Bank is from Wonga.
But then Ed Milliband got his own back on the Tories by complaining about some of their donors. But at least these donors, were using their own money, rather than that of members of the Co-operative movement.
Remember too, that the Liberal Democrats had a dalliance with Michael Brown.
And then there’s the story of Hotchpotch the cat who was left £10,000 by Malcolm Richards who was a large financial supporter of Ukip.
I can smell the fruitcakes.
Perhaps we need say a ten percent tax levied on every political donation. The money could be used for philanthropic purposes, like looking after distressed catfolk.
No Wonder The Co-Op Is In Trouble
The Co-op is reportedly in trouble financially, so today they are in the news, not about curing their problems, but because of their new office block. Here’s the first paragraph.
The Co-operative Group’s £100m new office has been declared the most environmentally friendly building in the world – ahead of its official opening by the Queen today.
One Angel Square achieved the highest ever eco rating for a building by BREEAM, the industry environmental assessment experts.
“Does the Queen get a divi?” was asked on BBC Breakfast this morning. I suppose to the BBC in Manchester, this is a low-cost story, as their crew, can just get on the tram.
I occassionally go into the Co-op at Dalston Junction station, but rarely buy anything except a paper and the odd grocery item. It does sell Genius bread, but the last time, I tried to buy one at the store, there was only one very sorry example on sale.
I can see this morning, why they are in trouble. Flagship projects and forgetting about customers.
Co-Operative Bank Ditches Business Lending
This story on the BBC web site, says a lot about the state of the Co-Operative Bank. Here’s the first bit.
Co-operative Bank has stopped offering new business loans amid concerns over its capital position.
The bank is continuing to provide lending to existing customers, but has frozen lending to new corporate customers.
I don’t bank there, but if I did, I’d be moving my account for safety reasons tomorrow. If not today!
Co-op Bank Debt Is Rated Junk
This report, says that the Co-op Bank‘s debt isn’t very highly rated.
I wouldn’t know whether it is going bust or not, but because of its political leanings and links to the Labour Party, I bet that management of the bank, wish that George Osborne wasn’t Chancellor.
What I find strange about the bank, is that why some of my left-leaning friends, who support Labour, bank with other banks, like Lloyds, Barclays or HSBC.
The Anonymous Widower 