Comments on: Big money politics takes more victims

By: Colin Hart

Colin Hart — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:30:32 +0000

Did Margaret Jay warn Hilary Benn or was she letting him know so he would know who to thank later?
The taxpayer already subsidises parties – Short money etc. This is no reason to screw even more out of us. Watch out for us withholding taxes. The argument that state-funding is the norm in Europe concludes the case against.

Reply: I have not heard Lady Jay's response to such a question. It would be interesting to hear an interview with her, as she could prove an important witness in this case.

By: Letters From A Tory

Letters From A Tory — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:07:54 +0000

I agree. This funding crisis goes a lot deeper than Labour's incompetence and sleaze and no doubt the Conservatives and Lib Dems will be caught out as some point as well. http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com

By: norm

norm — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:52:26 +0000

Margaret Jay clearly knew that Mrs Kidd was just a bag lady for Mr Abrahams.
The question is, how did Jay know this? It can only be that she had seen the same subterfuge and the same names used elsewhere.
I wonder where??

Reply: Maybe she was told it came from Mr Abrahams when she checked it out in connection with the Benn donation.

By: Stuart Fairney

Stuart Fairney — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:43:00 +0000

If Benn knew( Mrs Kidd -ed) was not the real source of the money, it is hard to believe Harman was not privy to the same information.

If she knew, then it's surely over for her, if she didn't know, then presumably she just accepts money from more or less anyone, in which case, is such a person with such a cavalier attitude, the best possible person to be deputy leader of the labour party?

Today's news conference with the PM reminded me of one of those sleazy American senators caught in gross impropriety. "I have no recollection of…" and "I acted in good faith" etc. Weasel words indeed.

By: steve_roberts

steve_roberts — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:18:52 +0000

"more money from taxpayers for political parties."

For me, if any political party can't raise what it wants to spend by voluntary donations, capped at a sufficiently low level to prevent individuals and organisations buying policies and parties, if they can't raise enough voluntarily, they will just have to spend less. Funding their spending ambitions out of the pockets of the public by taxation is just not on.

By: APL

APL — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:34:49 +0000

JR: “I just hope this is not used as another excuse to demand more money from taxpayers for political parties.”

Of course it will – already has been. The ‘narrative’ goes like this: “we are too dishonest to be trusted to raise our party funds directly, therefore we need to be able to dip our hands directly into tax revenue.”

A bit like ‘we are incapable of securing your private details’ therefore identity cards run by the government are a good idea.

Such brass neck and brazen dishonesty is astounding.