Like the Telegraph’s staggering scoop from 2009, the freebies furore shows how out of touch our ruling class can be
Somewhat belatedly, Sir Keir Starmer seems to have realised that this whole furore over freebies doesn’t look terribly good for him. So he’s tried to make amends.
If anything, though, he’s arguably managed to make things even worse.
This week, the Prime Minister reached into his own pocket to cover the cost of more than £6,000 worth of free gifts – including tickets to Taylor Swift concerts and races at Doncaster. Perhaps he thought doing this would get him off the hook. But it won’t.
First, because it’s a tacit admission that accepting such freebies was always wrong – which rather calls his judgment into question. And second, because it’s prompted some awkward questions. Such as: why did he pay up for some of his lovely freebies, but not for others? And why didn’t he make his ministers pay up for theirs?
Clearly Sir Keir still hasn’t grasped the truth. Which is that this row about freebies is the new expenses scandal.
The public’s outrage may be less explosive this time. But that’s because voters nowadays are wearily inured to political sleaze – largely as a result of the expenses scandal itself.
At any rate, there are clear similarities between the two sagas. Voters always knew that MPs claimed expenses – but, until 2009, they didn’t realise how many of them were taking the mickey, by claiming for duckhouses and moat-cleaning.
It’s the same with the uproar about freebies. Voters always knew that MPs received donations from rich businessmen – but, until now, they assumed that these were just to fund campaign leaflets and election ads. They didn’t realise that they were also getting free designer frocks for their wives, and the use of luxury Covent Garden penthouses for their sons to do GCSE revision in.
The consequences of the two rows are similar, too. Once again, voters come away thinking: “They’re all the same. Only in it for themselves.”
If Sir Keir really wants to restore trust in politics, he must ensure that ordinary people benefit from the same opportunities that he’s had. To this end, I urge him to announce the creation of a National Penthouse Service, so that every child in Britain has access to an £18million rooftop apartment to do his or her homework in. We won’t have true equality in this country till he does so.
Peak Guardian
The time has come to commemorate a glorious milestone in journalism. Because this month sees the 20th anniversary of the single most sublimely bonkers article ever published in the entire history of The Guardian. I am of course referring to that unforgettable day in October 2004, when the favourite newspaper of the metropolitan middle-class Left enjoined its British readers to write fabulously patronising letters to swing voters in Clark County, Ohio – ordering them not to vote for that simply ghastly man, George W Bush.
Helpfully it supplied its readers with a sample letter to copy. “I know that you, as Americans, understand the issues,” the letter graciously declared – but, just to be on the safe side, it explained “the issues” to them anyway. The people of Clark County were told that they should “be alarmed by your president’s breathtaking disregard for the environment”, informed that their country had suffered a shocking “erosion of standards in education”, and warned that they must not “stand by and observe your country being hijacked by a select group of neo-conservative extremists who spread fear and loathing”.
Remarkably, no fewer than 14,000 Guardian readers nobly volunteered to do their bit. Strangely, however, it seems that the people of Clark County did not take kindly to being told how to vote by a bunch of social workers from Stoke Newington, or creatives from Crouch End. Back in 2000, Clark County had narrowly voted Democrat. But this time, in 2004, it swung behind Bush, instead.
Personally, I just wish that the Americans had returned the favour. If only, during our own election this summer, the Clark County Chronicle had got its readers to write to voters in Britain.
Dear limey,
Please tell me you doofuses aren’t dumb enough to vote Labour. I’m telling you: within weeks, those pinko commie jerks will have ripped the winter fuel payment from your grandma’s hands. And, in case that doesn’t finish her off, they’ll rush through assisted dying, just to make sure…
Nonsense verse
Some of England’s greatest ever poets also served as MPs. Andrew Marvell. John Donne. Chaucer. But now, it seems, an exciting new talent has joined this roll of honour.
Because Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has decided to mark Black History Month by writing a poem.
As is the way with great art, there is heated critical debate about its meaning. The lines “Why you try so hard to achieve/ By burning yourself with the sun?/ For me there’s no need” appear to mock a white person for sunbathing. Ms Butler then mysteriously adds, “I am the Chosen One/ For I am of the First Ones.”
This may be an allusion to the belief that mankind originated in Africa. Or perhaps she’s announcing that she’s Jesus. It’s hard to be sure. Still, poetry is all about personal interpretation, so I think both readings are equally valid.
As it happens, the post of Poet Laureate falls vacant in 2029 – the year of the next election. So if she gets voted out, she shouldn’t be out of work long.
Like the Telegraph’s staggering scoop from 2009, the freebies furore shows how out of touch our ruling class can be
Somewhat belatedly, Sir Keir Starmer seems to have realised that this whole furore over freebies doesn’t look terribly good for him. So he’s tried to make amends.
If anything, though, he’s arguably managed to make things even worse.
This week, the Prime Minister reached into his own pocket to cover the cost of more than £6,000 worth of free gifts – including tickets to Taylor Swift concerts and races at Doncaster. Perhaps he thought doing this would get him off the hook. But it won’t.
First, because it’s a tacit admission that accepting such freebies was always wrong – which rather calls his judgment into question. And second, because it’s prompted some awkward questions. Such as: why did he pay up for some of his lovely freebies, but not for others? And why didn’t he make his ministers pay up for theirs?
Clearly Sir Keir still hasn’t grasped the truth. Which is that this row about freebies is the new expenses scandal.
The public’s outrage may be less explosive this time. But that’s because voters nowadays are wearily inured to political sleaze – largely as a result of the expenses scandal itself.
At any rate, there are clear similarities between the two sagas. Voters always knew that MPs claimed expenses – but, until 2009, they didn’t realise how many of them were taking the mickey, by claiming for duckhouses and moat-cleaning.
It’s the same with the uproar about freebies. Voters always knew that MPs received donations from rich businessmen – but, until now, they assumed that these were just to fund campaign leaflets and election ads. They didn’t realise that they were also getting free designer frocks for their wives, and the use of luxury Covent Garden penthouses for their sons to do GCSE revision in.
The consequences of the two rows are similar, too. Once again, voters come away thinking: “They’re all the same. Only in it for themselves.”
If Sir Keir really wants to restore trust in politics, he must ensure that ordinary people benefit from the same opportunities that he’s had. To this end, I urge him to announce the creation of a National Penthouse Service, so that every child in Britain has access to an £18million rooftop apartment to do his or her homework in. We won’t have true equality in this country till he does so.
Peak Guardian
The time has come to commemorate a glorious milestone in journalism. Because this month sees the 20th anniversary of the single most sublimely bonkers article ever published in the entire history of The Guardian. I am of course referring to that unforgettable day in October 2004, when the favourite newspaper of the metropolitan middle-class Left enjoined its British readers to write fabulously patronising letters to swing voters in Clark County, Ohio – ordering them not to vote for that simply ghastly man, George W Bush.
Helpfully it supplied its readers with a sample letter to copy. “I know that you, as Americans, understand the issues,” the letter graciously declared – but, just to be on the safe side, it explained “the issues” to them anyway. The people of Clark County were told that they should “be alarmed by your president’s breathtaking disregard for the environment”, informed that their country had suffered a shocking “erosion of standards in education”, and warned that they must not “stand by and observe your country being hijacked by a select group of neo-conservative extremists who spread fear and loathing”.
Remarkably, no fewer than 14,000 Guardian readers nobly volunteered to do their bit. Strangely, however, it seems that the people of Clark County did not take kindly to being told how to vote by a bunch of social workers from Stoke Newington, or creatives from Crouch End. Back in 2000, Clark County had narrowly voted Democrat. But this time, in 2004, it swung behind Bush, instead.
Personally, I just wish that the Americans had returned the favour. If only, during our own election this summer, the Clark County Chronicle had got its readers to write to voters in Britain.
Dear limey,
Please tell me you doofuses aren’t dumb enough to vote Labour. I’m telling you: within weeks, those pinko commie jerks will have ripped the winter fuel payment from your grandma’s hands. And, in case that doesn’t finish her off, they’ll rush through assisted dying, just to make sure…
Nonsense verse
Some of England’s greatest ever poets also served as MPs. Andrew Marvell. John Donne. Chaucer. But now, it seems, an exciting new talent has joined this roll of honour.
Because Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has decided to mark Black History Month by writing a poem.
As is the way with great art, there is heated critical debate about its meaning. The lines “Why you try so hard to achieve/ By burning yourself with the sun?/ For me there’s no need” appear to mock a white person for sunbathing. Ms Butler then mysteriously adds, “I am the Chosen One/ For I am of the First Ones.”
This may be an allusion to the belief that mankind originated in Africa. Or perhaps she’s announcing that she’s Jesus. It’s hard to be sure. Still, poetry is all about personal interpretation, so I think both readings are equally valid.
As it happens, the post of Poet Laureate falls vacant in 2029 – the year of the next election. So if she gets voted out, she shouldn’t be out of work long.