You can bank on the shadow Cabinet's second jobs causing problems for the Tories
James Forsyth 6:22pmIt has long been clear that the shadow Cabinet’s second jobs are a vulnerability just waiting to be exploited. Today’s Evening Standard brings an example of this:
“THE TORY shadow cabinet has been raking in thousands of pounds in cash and perks from failing banks.
Three prominent shadow cabinet members--William Hague, Ken Clarke and Francis Maude--who have supported criticism of 'irresponsible' bankers, were paid large sums in the past year by institutions that have lost taxpayers billions of pounds.”
Now, we can get into a long argument about the value of outside experience and all that. But there’s no denying that in PR terms there are huge risks associated with the shadow Cabinet’s second jobs and little to no potential upside. With an election less than 18 months away, it is surely time for the shadow Cabinet to go full time?
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TGF UKIP
January 22nd, 2009 7:00pm Report this commentOn the one hand, Dave is terrified of his Cameron Tories actually looking like real conservatives by calling for real cuts in public expenditure while on the other, he's perfectly relaxed by his mates living up to Joe Public's image of the Tories as a sleazy bunch of rich greedy bastards with their snouts in the trough.
But that's Dave for you!
strapworld
January 22nd, 2009 7:02pm Report this commentEach time you have posted this topic -which appears to be quite a favourite of yours- the majority view is that it is far better for MP's to have experience of life outside Westminster- you persist in attempting to do a Canute.
Now what about the Labour Party ex Ministers and others who are making a fortune 'advising' or are directors of companies related to the briefs they held in Parliament..Now that is the greater sin.
But you, for reasons known only by yourself, keep on and on about the Tories and only the Tories,and you will never budge me from my view.
IN Government as Ministers I expect and demand that all outside interests end.
IN Government, when they lose their Ministerial positions, I expect and demand that there be a decent time before they are allowed to have outside directorships/advisors etc.
BUT in opposition it is to the advantage of the Party and for their future knowledge as Ministers to deal with, and have experience of life outside Parliament.
Please, please Mr Forsyth, change the ruddy record.
What is a damned disgrace is Journalists changing newspapers without any consideration by the Newspapers of the Equal Opportunities legislation.
Correspondents, Political and Sports, especially, change newspapers with quite amazing regularity.
How do young journailsts, or would be journalists, get any chance when it is all cut and dried. THAT is a damned disgrace. But nothing is ever done about that. I never read your comments on such bad behaviour by newspapers.
Get off the back of the Tories. I am of the view that you are being briefed by Gordon Brown!
Verity
January 22nd, 2009 7:38pm Report this commentThey're the Shadow Cabinet. They don't govern.
If there is too much fuss about this, I would expect at least William Hague to take a hike as no one under David Cameron gets a chance to form policies anyway.
Matthew
January 22nd, 2009 7:45pm Report this commentIt may be that Strapworld has missed the point just ever so slightly.
It's not the fact of Shadow Ministers having second jobs. I don't really object to that.
It's having them in the financial institutions that are currently losing billions of taxpayers money. I really, really object to that!
strapworld
January 22nd, 2009 8:11pm Report this commentMatthew, Thank you, but I have not missed the point. I take it that you do not use a bank now?
Seriously, perhaps Hague and others are putting some well needed advice within these institutions.
Obama was correct in his speech when he said the blame was not all the bankers fault but everyone's...people were not forced to take out huge loans, they knew their own individual finances and they took a chance!
You cannot whip the bankers alone. One must take some personal blame. The problem is that it is always someone else to blame. The individual is just the poor person who was duped!
Once we can all accept that we are all to blame, then perhaps we can draw the line and start rebuilding our society.
Your way, Matthew, would appear to want to string up all in the financial institutions!
Blame, in this situation, is
1. The Government and Brown.
2. Bank of England.
3. Banks/Building Societies and ourselves.
We are all in this together!
Despair
January 22nd, 2009 10:58pm Report this commentI agree with Strapworld - personal accountability is the ultimate conservative position - ain't it?
JohnAnt
January 23rd, 2009 2:00am Report this commentThis isn't really about second jobs. It's about a conflict of interest. This is a conflict of interest of such proportions that it compromises the Tories as a potential government and could damage them electorally. Get a grip Dave!
Mark
January 23rd, 2009 10:02am Report this commentWhat has Mandelson got on you, Mr Forsyth?
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