A thread to discuss all the things you see that undermine public life, regardless of which party the politicians are attached to. Things like this, for example: https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/alexwickham/graham-brady-michael-fallon-free-trip-cayman-islands
Sorry @admin that was supposed to go in the Politics section. No need to subject normal fans to this kind of stuff, can you move it there?
Just so I understand, where is the corruption? They declared everything, and spoke on public radio about how it is important to be sensible about what is made public, and what is made available to tax and financial authorities. Is that the usual way a corrupt government official behaves? The APPG CI often has trips to the CI. There were two groups of all party MP's went last year and this year's was for their 60th Anniversary of their Constitution. It doesn't mean that those that go are corrupt. They are a British Overseas Territory, and not to be ignored. Of course there is lobbying, from the individual that seks a meeting with an MP, to the Cayman Islands UK Office that paid for this trip. After all, that office states quite clearly that they are here to promote the relationship between the CI and the UK. There is nothing hidden. And it is right that informed people represent both sides of an argument, rather than just allowing decisions to be made on ideological prejudice alone. In any case, how do you think politicians should get their knowledge, with which to operate. Do they look it up on the internet? Maybe follow forums like this? No, they have to get about, they have to engage, they have to listen to all sides of the arguments. For example, I note that Margerat Hodge who was most vocally complaining about the trip, only managed a paid trip to Paris recently, and that was to "research into the OECD" for two days. Maybe she was a bit jealous it wasn't the Cayman Islands. But she did get a provately paid hospitality trip worth £000's to Wimbledon by the CEO ofc an Alternative Investment company. And she did also receive £5,000 for a "speech" at Interserve the services company. Maybe she will support their causes, but maybe won't be so public about it. Who knows? The fact is, it is their job to find things out. It obviously leaves them open to corruption and lobbying, but that doesn't mean they have crossed the line. So I think you opening effort, on this thread is a poor one.
