Somebody’s going to emergency, somebody’s going to jail
Politics is so often about timing and the Central Criminal Court played its role this week, offering partial verdicts on the ‘trial of the century’ just a day before PMQs. It was inevitable that short of a complete exoneration of those involved this would create problems for the PM. To his credit his commitment to personal loyalty didn’t crumble; offering an endorsement for Coulson’s works if not the man himself – now a convicted criminal.
Meanwhile from the sound of some of the published comment from the City there are a few people who seem to think our highly accomplished Governor deserves an involuntary night in A&E following his appearance before the Treasury Select Committee. Given his comments about Mark Carney being a bit like an unreliable boyfriend the headline writers have much to thank Pat McFadden for. Pat – I didn’t know you could get them with five year contracts!
The Eurosausage returns!
Margot James hosted a Trade & Investment APPG event in Parliament this week to foster links between British firms and those who might want their wares. Chatting to representatives from Ross&Ross and Quickes Traditional I was amused to hear that they’ve found growing market opportunities in France. In fact the subtitle is misleading as the produce these British manufacturers are supplying is the antithesis of the Eurosausage. Buyers want their output because it’s high quality with a proven provenance. The success of such firms is also a fantastic antidote to the ludicrous claim that “we don’t make anything anymore”. The PM should take heart – if he can’t sell our EU partners institutional reform at least he might have luck running a market stall in the Sablon...
The last of Savile
Extensive investigations by the NHS into the reported activities of Jimmy Savile were published this week. The Health Secretary called the late presenter’s actions “sickening” as he apologised to those affected. Coming in the week where it was also disclosed that the bodies of hundreds of dead babies had been supplied to Irish universities in between 1940 – 1965 it is a reminder that we have come a long way in terms of protection for children. None of which will be of much comfort to those involved though who still have to live with the legacy of their experiences and the deeply disturbing fact that, not really that long ago, this was a country where a high-profile celebrity was allowed to go around committing pederasty at will and no one in authority stepped in and no one reliant on the authorities had a voice.
A LibDem with a plan
Half-seriously and half-jokingly I often ask those with a LibDem bent what it is the party stands for. I may have to temper those questions now we have at least one Liberal Democrat unafraid of Defined Ambition. Steve Webb will have been rather pleased to finally see a Bill to provide pooled risk pensions tabled in the Commons. More controversially the Bill also provides for a ‘pensions promise’ – essentially a guarantee about the level of benefit due to the policyholder. However, the Bill should make relatively speedy progress through both Houses and then it will be over to the financial services industry to deliver products that consumers understand and put money into.
Cameron Penny
Account Manager, Cicero Group