Dear All
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has
described himself as an ex-politician.
If you look at his House of Commons
appearances you would have to agree with him.
Gordon Brown is at present seat blocking,
which is a bit like bed blocking, he is in the House of Commons because it
represents networking opportunities for his ‘cottage industry’ which is
promoting his own interests.
As an “ex politician” politician, he is
sitting about waiting for someone to offer him a realy big pay day in an
institution elsewhere, then and only then will he step down from his £60k and
expenses job.
For Brown being an MP is just a hobby, and
the Westminster facilities are subsidised which is always handy because London
is expensive as a place to live.
The former Prime Minister’s gaffe or telling
of the truth, take your pick, happened when Brown was asked his view "as a
politician" during a panel discussion as part of the World Innovation
Summit on Education in Qatar.
He immediately interjected that he was an "ex-politician."
The panel chair, BBC journalist Mishal
Husain, said:
"You're still an MP."
Mishal Husain is obviously better informed
that Gordon Brown on his status, but then £60k is probably a drop in the bucket
as he is probably doing the after dinner speaking circuit which can rake in a
fair few bob.
In 2013 he made £1.37 million but gave the
money to charity, which is very noble, however, the best way to be seen as a ‘force’
is to network and keep a high profile. This is the way to get a good
international job, and I think we can assume that he won’t be giving that to charity
if it came his way.
Foreign Secretary William Hague had a good
few pay days on the circuit before he had to give up that enterprise; I understand
he kept the cash in his case.
A bit of chit chat and walk away with about
£20k not bad for an evening’s work and free grub thrown in plus travel and accommodation.
Looks good to me!
Brown has represented the Kirkcaldy and
Cowdenbeath area since 1983 but as an ex Prime Minister, he isn’t interested in
the little people, he has tasted the jet set lifestyle and residents complaints
doesn’t seem to have the same appeal.
The lack of Brown’s work ethic has drawn criticism
from Conservative backbencher Henry Smith.
Mr. Smith said that Brown’s "foreign
jaunt" showed he "can't even be bothered to turn up for work".
I wouldn’t say that is strictly true, the
issue of whether or not he is in foreign climes is irrelevant, if he was in
Britain, he still would be absent.
Since the 2010 general election, Mr Brown
has spoken five times in the House of Commons.
You can therefore count that on one hand,
he spoke four times on constituency issues and once on the phone-hacking
affair.
That isn’t good enough, Gordon Brown in my
opinion makes the case for a recall mechanism for Westminster, if he was ill,
people would understand, but unhappiness at losing an election isn’t an
illness.
Surprisingly he has received support from Lord
Tebbit, the Conservative former cabinet minister; he paid tribute to him during
a question on tax avoidance.
Tebbit asked in the Lords if the minister
was "aware that a very good precedent has been set on the avoidance of tax
by the immediate past Prime Minister, Mr Brown".
Lord Tebbit continued:
"He does not pay tax on the earnings
that spring from the things he does as a former prime minister because he gives
all those earnings to charity. Is that not an example which might be followed
by other former prime ministers?"
That was a dig at Tony Blair who has been
more successful than Brown in wringing millions out of organisations as a
consultant and gun for hire.
The money Brown makes goes to the Office of
Gordon and Sarah Brown for the employment of staff to support my ongoing
involvement in public life.
So, there is an agenda, and I suppose many
will comment that his ongoing involvement in public life is in fact ‘job
hunting’.
He has a job and that job is as an MP for
the people of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, perhaps if he took an active role in
the Commons, he would increase his employment chances elsewhere, at present he
is just working his ticket and that is unacceptable. Although he won his seat
fair and square, he hasn’t done himself any credit since winning it. In fact
quite the opposite, he should step down as an MP and allow someone else the
chance who wants to do the work, there comes a time when hanging on isn’t worth
it.
There should be a recall mechanism for
elected officials in order to ensure that they at least attend their place of
employment, making a contribution is optional but is generally welcomed.
His actions make a mockery of democracy and insult both the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and the House of Commons.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow
University
No comments:
Post a Comment