Gravy train scandal as ex-ministers join payroll of industries they used to oversee
[Image: Reuters/Stefan Wermuth.]
This Writer campaigned against it (fruitlessly, for a change) as the Gagging Act was making its way through Parliament.
While it isn’t against the rules, it does stretch credibility to see no connection between, for example, ex-water minister Richard Benyon’s government post and his new job as £1,000-a-day part-time chairman of the UK Water Partnership.
It seems David Cameron still can’t see the connection. Nor could he when he had a chance to outlaw it as part of the Transparency Act I mentioned above. Perhaps he’s looking forward to one or two tasty directorships himself, in a few years’ time.
It seems you can lead this horse to water, but you can’t make him sign the pledge.
Five former members of David Cameron’s cabinet are among dozens of ex-Coalition ministers earning up to £600 an hour in the sector they used to regulate.
The Prime Minister faces calls for a tougher crackdown on the Whitehall gravy train after a Mirror investigation revealed at least 25 former government bigwigs are raking in well over £1million between them in relevant industries.
Many are trousering thousands of pounds a day in plum part-time roles as directors, advisers or board chairmen.
They have broken no rules and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.
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There are no standards in parliament,and the mps and lords like it that way,for obvious reasons.They can vote on matters,even if they have financial interests related to the policy as long as they declare them.Large numbers of mps and lords had financial interests in private healthcare providers but were able to vote on the Health and Social Care bill/Act.Corruption is rife in parliament and parliamentary safefuards are so weak.Recall bill weak,lobbying bill weak.Revolving door spins.
A Joke.
Its called fraud but then we run by a bunch of crooks jeff3
It isn’t fraud. It just isn’t decent.
You are correct Mike! It certainly does look like yet another job for the boys. No one deserves that sort of remuneration; except possibly the real workers of course!
have always believed this to be reason for tax avoidance never being tackled by the gestures made by successive governments.
i guess it does not stretch the imagination to think that these temptations are not so much for their dubious expertise but rewards for services rendered by them applying soft touches to regulations, bending to needs of the usual generous lobbying, ignoring petitiions and real experts who can cost their industries money etc etc. Personally I think these appointments need banning completely as one could suspect that their replacements would be lined up for convivial lunches and talks of future prosoects etc, I think I recall instances where tax chiefs who were soft on tax bills for blue chips suddenly finding themselves in top jobs with accountancy companies. I think it is just another case of the Camoron turning a blind eye to keeping the wheels of greed turning and lying again about wanting to clean up and bring in transparency…..nice vote catcher that turned out once again not to be as honest as his mealy mouthed words…….
Just another example of the corrupt people who govern at the moment.