Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
There has been a lot of fuss over the last year about wealthy benefactors donating money to political parties, many of whom seemed to have only a very loose connection to the Party concerned. Which got me thinking... recently in the news we have heard about a chap who has signed a whopping book deal, made a bob or two in the City, and he has earned a crust or two from the banking sector. Even his missus has supplemented the child benefit with a part-time job which has been worth a tidy sum, and she is helping out with the mortgage with another little venture.
If only he had some links to the Labour Party, eh?
stephen said:
February 3, 2008 2:04 PM | permalink
I've always thought that it wood be a good idea for all Labour MPs to sign over to the Party a percentage of their future earnings from books/lecture tours etc. After all the Party does provide some help in getting them into the political limelight. Would be quite easy to make signing such a contract as a condition of their selection as candidates. The fact that so few former politicians leave next to nothing to the Party in their legacies is nothing short of a disgrace.
This meanness is just confined to Blair - where is the contribution from Tony Benn/Barbara Castle for example.
Over and over I say but nobody listens - who cares where the money comes from? We'd save millions just getting off this wheel and getting on with politics.
I presume you are advocating state funding James. If you are, I understand why you say it, but I don't agree. I think it would encourage even more complacency by political parties and make them even more remote from people.
February 3, 2008 2:04 PM | permalink
I've always thought that it wood be a good idea for all Labour MPs to sign over to the Party a percentage of their future earnings from books/lecture tours etc. After all the Party does provide some help in getting them into the political limelight. Would be quite easy to make signing such a contract as a condition of their selection as candidates. The fact that so few former politicians leave next to nothing to the Party in their legacies is nothing short of a disgrace.
This meanness is just confined to Blair - where is the contribution from Tony Benn/Barbara Castle for example.