NPR

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 8:33 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 7:17 pm Money well spent after £252m to Ayanda Capital:

1. £186m of public money given to Uniserve Ltd of Essex, the UK’s largest privately owned logistics and global trade management company, to supply PPE that reportedly never appeared.

2. £116m of public money given to P14 Medical Ltd of Liverpool, which had liabilities exceeding assets by £485,000 in December 2019 with just £145 in the bank, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

3. £108m of public money given to PestFix, with 16 employees and net assets of £19,000, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

4. £14.2m and a subsequent £93.2m of public money given to Clandeboye Agencies Ltd, a confectionery wholesaler in Co Antrim, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

5. £40m of public money given to Medicine Box Ltd of Sutton-in-Ashfield, despite having assets of just £6,000 in March, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

6. £32m and a subsequent £16m of public money given to Initia Ventures Ltd, filed for dormancy in January this year, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

7. £28m of public money given to Monarch Acoustics Ltd of Nottingham, makers of shop and office furniture, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

8. £25m of public money given to Luxe Lifestyle Ltd, to supply garments for biological or chemical protection to the NHS. According to Companies House, the business was incorporated by fashion designer Karen Brost in November 2018. It appears to have no employees, no assets and no turnover.

9. £18.4m of public money given to Aventis Solutions Ltd of Wilmslow, with just £322 in assets, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

10. £10m of public money given to Medco Solutions Ltd, incorporated on 26 March (three days after lockdown) with a share capital of just £2, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

11. £1.1m of public money given to Bristol shoemaker Toffeln Ltd, had seemingly never supplied any PPE whatsoever in the past, for PPE that reportedly never appeared.

12.£825,000 of public money given to MGP Advisory, described as a venture and development capital business that was in danger of being struck off the companies register for failing to file accounts. – it’s not clear what they were supposed to provide.

Someone has been hijacking these vital PPE shipments and this should be investigated immediately!

Rinkals wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:01 pm

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 8:33 pm
Someone has been hijacking these vital PPE shipments and this should be investigated immediately!

Good idea.

Commissioning another enquiry should keep the lid firmly on it.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:08 am Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:54 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:08 am Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:59 am

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:54 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:08 am Dan Hodges has started "writing" "articles" that suggest the leaks are a corbynista civil service trying to make the govt look bad.

This is how the Tories get away with it. Their mates in the press start to distort and kill stories.

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

As with any leak there is a source. If they were corbynistas surely they'd leak most of it when Corbyn was in charge?

If you want to be a journalist writing pro labour stories is a fools errand. Only so many guardian and NS columns to go around. Writing for right wing publications is just how to make a career.

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 11:45 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:59 am

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 10:54 am

Hodges has been on a strange political journey alright. Son of a Labour MP and two-time member of the Labour Party who describes himself as a 'Blairite', he has since transformed himself into a cheerleader for Boris and 'the Right's useful idiot', first at the Telegraph and now at the Mail.

Although there is no evidence that the civil servants feeding information to the Labour Party and the press about Greensil are Corbynites, or even affiliated with the Labour Party, the Sunday Times journalists have confirmed that they are being 'assisted' by current civil servants.

As with any leak there is a source. If they were corbynistas surely they'd leak most of it when Corbyn was in charge?

If you want to be a journalist writing pro labour stories is a fools errand. Only so many guardian and NS columns to go around. Writing for right wing publications is just how to make a career.

Even if they were leaked by Labour then so what? It’s still highlighting corruption at an industrial scale. Billions have been handed out for very little return. Labour getting it in the press doesn’t make it ok.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:44 am Tories making good use of this effect:

https://sketchplanations.com/the-dilution-effect

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 7:41 am

Rinkals wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:36 pm So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

Breaking:

Boris Johnson has axed plans for televised White House-style press conferences

Allegra Stratton, his press secretary, will become his spokeswoman for COP26

The £2.6m No 9 briefing room will instead be used by the PM, ministers and officials

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:45 am Rishi Sunak was the best man at Allegra Stratton's wedding. She's on 110k per year for a job she doesn't actually do.

That's about as good an example of sleaze as there is.

Number 10 makeover scandal: New leaked memo shows Conservative Party chief knew £58,000 donation was earmarked for Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat

This was duly declared to the Electoral Commission watchdog, in accordance with transparency rules.

Crucially, the email, also sent to Conservative chief executive Darren Mott, shows a second donation of £58,000 was to pay for new decor for Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds’s flat at 11 Downing Street.

This has not yet been declared to the Electoral Commission.

The £58,000 was to cover an identical amount secretly paid months earlier by Tory HQ for the refurbishment, including expensive wallpaper – in an attempt to disguise it.

The email appears to prove that the Tories planned to claim the £58,000 was paid not by Lord Brownlow but by a ‘soon to be formed Downing St Trust’ that did not exist – and still doesn’t, officially.

The disclosure comes as the Electoral Commission continues to quiz Conservative chiefs over the flat refit row, which has been dubbed ‘Wallpaper-gate’. The email, sent by wealthy donor Lord Brownlow last October 14 was marked ‘Donation’ and reads: ‘Hi Mike ... further to our conversation I am making a donation to the Party.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:57 pm

Rinkals wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:36 pm So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

Parliamentary Privilege, innit

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

but

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

Rinkals wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:59 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:57 pm

Rinkals wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:36 pm So, is lying to the House not considered perjury?

It does seem to be one of those transgressions that is so minor, it's hardly worth talking about.

Parliamentary Privilege, innit

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act.

but

these rights and immunities do not extend to crimes unrelated to their office

As I read it, Parliamentary privilege protects the Members from legal action if they say something which may be construed as slander, etc.

Surely lying to Parliament is much more serious than that?

However, it does seem to be a very common occurrence under Bojo's Government.

It's just that I was under the impression that the UK had a law against it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:21 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:07 am

Rinkals wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:59 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:57 pm

Parliamentary Privilege, innit



but

As I read it, Parliamentary privilege protects the Members from legal action if they say something which may be construed as slander, etc.

Surely lying to Parliament is much more serious than that?

However, it does seem to be a very common occurrence under Bojo's Government.

It's just that I was under the impression that the UK had a law against it.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6

From section 1 of the Westminster ministerial code

c. It is of paramount importance that Ministers give
accurate and truthful information to Parliament,
correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest
opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead
Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to
the Prime Minister;


It doesn't specifically say what should happen if the prime minister lies to parliament right enough.

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:57 am

Number 10 makeover scandal: New leaked memo shows Conservative Party chief knew £58,000 donation was earmarked for Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat

Spoiler

Show

This was duly declared to the Electoral Commission watchdog, in accordance with transparency rules.

Crucially, the email, also sent to Conservative chief executive Darren Mott, shows a second donation of £58,000 was to pay for new decor for Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds’s flat at 11 Downing Street.

This has not yet been declared to the Electoral Commission.

The £58,000 was to cover an identical amount secretly paid months earlier by Tory HQ for the refurbishment, including expensive wallpaper – in an attempt to disguise it.

The email appears to prove that the Tories planned to claim the £58,000 was paid not by Lord Brownlow but by a ‘soon to be formed Downing St Trust’ that did not exist – and still doesn’t, officially.

The disclosure comes as the Electoral Commission continues to quiz Conservative chiefs over the flat refit row, which has been dubbed ‘Wallpaper-gate’. The email, sent by wealthy donor Lord Brownlow last October 14 was marked ‘Donation’ and reads: ‘Hi Mike ... further to our conversation I am making a donation to the Party.

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:10 am

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:21 am

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

A private secretary or official should be present for all discussions relating to government business. If a minister meets an external organisation or individual and finds themselves discussing official business without an official present – for example at a social occasion or on holiday – any significant content should be passed back to the department as soon as possible after the event. Departments will publish quarterly, details of ministers’ external meetings.

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said.

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:10 am On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:48 am Didn't Blair take a bribe off Bernie Ecclestone to keep cigarette adverts legal for F1?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:48 am Didn't Blair take a bribe off Bernie Ecclestone to keep cigarette adverts legal for F1?

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:22 pm

and it shows that the Government are still protecting individuals linked to al-Qaeda, Saudi intelligence, and the royal families of Abu Dhabi and other countries in the Middle East, as well as arms dealers, smugglers, fraudsters, convicted criminals, BCCI senior personnel, and some politicians.

What kind of Government protect criminal organisations and wrongdoers?

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:10 am

Insane_Homer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:21 am

On first hearing, I'm not seeing that much in this one to be honest. It was a national emergency and no one is making anything out of it.

Dyson could just have swallowed it really

I understand No 11 was uneasy about what Dyson was asking for, and it's suggested they had quite deliberately not responded to his firm's requests before Sir James himself then texted Johnson directly about the tax issue
I'm told Sunak did not and has never had any personal contact with Sir James Dyson
And of course, Treasury set precedent a few weeks ago when they published Sunak's texts to David Cameron about Greensill - we have asked No 10 if they will do the same with Johnson's texts to Dyson

At the time, other manufacturers felt that in the key March 16th meeting the PM was especially keen to involve Dyson and JCB, as manufacturer-supporters of Brexit, rather than carmakers and aerospace (who succeeded)

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:19 am
Brazen doesn't do it justice

mat the expat wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:28 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:19 am
Brazen doesn't do it justice

Luckily, the Football scandal is in the press

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said

We were in the middle of a pandemic. After all, we were asking James Dyson to step forward and start making ventilators. I find it hard to get worked up about this. There's got to be a certain degree of understanding: if you are in the middle of a huge crisis like this, people are going to be using every means they can to make sure they respond to the immediate crisis

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:43 am

Asked what he would have done if he had received text messages like this when he was prime minister, Blair said that when he was in Downing Street he never had a mobile phone. He was now “extremely grateful” for that, he said

He also said, and it's a little more relevant than his mobile phone ownership:

We were in the middle of a pandemic. After all, we were asking James Dyson to step forward and start making ventilators. I find it hard to get worked up about this. There's got to be a certain degree of understanding: if you are in the middle of a huge crisis like this, people are going to be using every means they can to make sure they respond to the immediate crisis