Are the Toffs crumbling?

Butterfly-brained

It took Ken Livingstone seven years to lose a cabinet member. It’s taken Boris Johnson seven weeks. London regional television did a protracted interview with Ray Lewis on Thursday.  He was strikingly un-impressive.  He denied any knowledge of being struck-off as a priest. No one had told him about any accusations of financial irregularities or sexual misconduct. Boris appointed Lewis to his post on a salary of £124,364 without a proper vetting process.

The Mayor's official website continued to say last night that Mr Lewis was "also a trustee and governor of the Petchey Academy in Hackney and a Justice of the Peace", although the Justice Department had denied he was a magistrate.  Boris is not helping his retreat by describing Lewis’s talents as ‘God given.’

It’s telling that the alleged abuse between Labour and Tory MPs this week centered on accusations against ‘Tory Toffs’. Multi-Millionaires urging the rest of us to take a pay-cut are not an edifying sight. Memories of the  Bullingdon Club of rich foppish young drunkards haunts Cameron. ( Cameron is 2 in the picture) His enthusiasm for Boris as a trailblazer for a Tory Government is turning queasy.

So far: so disastrous for Boris. Worst is to come if he ploughs on with his plan to bring back the out-dated Routemaster bus. There is no rational case for reviving a design that was dangerously open at the back, is unsuitable for the disabled and would need two people to run instead of the one on the bigger Bendy-bus.. One predication is that new Routemasters will increase bus fares by 11%. All for sentiment and nostalgia.

Having observed Boris as a fellow MP, I know he is a butterfly brained, superficial and disorganized. He leaves a trail of gaffes behind him like the trail of a slug.

Not the blazing trail that Cameron was expecting.

plus c'est la meme chose

Matthew Parris continues to illuminate in his Time Column.

Having lived through Britain’s dealings with insurgents over the past 50 years, I recognized a familiar pattern. Certainly America continued with almost all their insurgencies until the end to preach optimism about the outcomes -especially in Vietnam. Russia did the same in Afghanistan. All that was needed was more troops, then even more troops. Failures are downplayed, victories are exaggerated.

Matthew Parris has looked at how the papers reported the conflicts in Cyprus, Kenya, Malaya, Aden, Algeria and Vietnam. It is absorbing to read those old newspapers accounts.

He writes: “At first we announce that the insurgents must be beaten. We list the reasons, usually headed by a “thin end of the wedge” argument about the network of alliances and commitments upon which security depends. We are confident that the insurgents do not represent the majority of the native population, who approve of our efforts.

As the conflict drags on, we note that the insurgents are resorting to terrorist methods of the most cowardly sort. We observe that this threatens our popularity among the majority population, because of the intrusive methods we need to adopt to keep the terrorists at bay.

Throughout we report successes and setbacks, the dominant tone being guardedly optimistic that the battle is being won so long as we redouble our efforts, send as many troops as necessary, and stay the course.

After three or four years of fighting, we start to talk about a “settlement”, which we describe as (and genuinely persuade ourselves to be) a progressive and honourable move. We insist, in the immediate, that the military effort must be maintained, but that the battle - a battle for hearts and minds - will not be won by military means. Give-and-take may be necessary. And in the end we withdraw, never saying (even to ourselves) that we are retreating, and wish everyone well.”

Parris’s account is remarkably close to the analysis of insurgencies that I heard at the Pentagon two weeks ago. While we continue to send more soldiers to die in Afghanistan, a settlement is being planned that will be dressed up as a ‘success’ even though it will be a retreat.

The deadly charade is being cynically enacted, with few voices of sanity being heard. The leaders of all the political parties are silent on the awful truth of soldiers dying in vain.

Comments

[Jolly Roger......Counting his blessings.]

Patrick, you've just brought a lump to my throat.
And there was me thinking that you're just a young scrote.
You cannot imagine how wrong I have been.
Now that your true generous nature is seen.
'givejrhismoneyback.com' sounds fine.
I'll open an account,your bank or mine?
I do hope that Paul will help with the pick-up.
It'll make a nice change from the Nu-Labour stick-up.

Hang on just one cotton-picking minute.
I've nearly gone and dropped myself in it.
This fund is just part of a fiendish scheme,
To silence poor Roger...Dream on Pat, just dream.
I cannot be silenced by man nor by beast.
'Pending on Paul's hospitality at least.
So thanks for the offer that I now sadly spurn.
If you still want to help, give to Age Concern.

Paul,I understand your reputational ire,
But there ain't no smoke without some fire.
Your one-sided diss'ing of Ray Lewis's rep.
Had to be countered with a swift side-step.
The judgement against you, exists, so does his,
But neither stops either from doing the biz.
So just give some credit where credit is due.
And don't be surprised if some comes back to you.

Your generous offer of two quid 'til Friday,
Would've certainly have helped to stem the tide, eh?
But fortunately, not being a loafer,
I had a feel down the back of the sofa.
Lo and behold and to my delight.
I found £3.20 so now I'm alright.
My internal gratitude you could now earn.
If you donated two quid, or more, to Age Concern.

[Paul Flynn]

You have mis-read it. My attack is not on Ray Lewis but on the incompetent way he was appointed. Try reading what I said again, not what you think I said.

As to your suggestion that I have skeletons in my cupboard I must disappoint you. On the contrary on these matters I have a record that I am very proud of. I was the first in 1996 to attack the endowment mortgages losses that were suffered and the profits being made by big businesses. Later these included criticism of companies who were charging between 10% and 50% of compensation paid just for ADVICE. This advice was freely available from WHICH? and others.

One of these firms who charge 25% sued me because they claim my accusation could be interpreted as claiming they were charging more.

I was advised that I had a 90% chance of winning the case in court. But if I lost, the costs could be between three quarters of a £million and a £million. That would have ruined me. I am not a gambler and even though the odds were good, the risk was too great. I had no alternative but to agree to their demands. Signing the 'apology' was more sensible that a possible future of debt.

I did nothing wrong and I am proud of my endowment campaign. I would do the same again. The cost is part of the risk we MPs have when we take on rich powerful companies who can afford to employ expensive lawyers to silence their critics. The insurance that MPs have to defend us against libel cases was then insufficient. The costs were increasing at a rate of about £3,000 a week.

There is an important principle here. MPs should be free to accuse without the risk of prosecution. I have done this under privilege six times - with some dramatic results. One firm left Newport the other left the country. Good riddance to both. One wanted to reopen a polluting power station where Avon Village now stands.

It was a good of you to bring this up, Jolly Roger and give me the chance to put you, and anyone else who does understand the issue, straight.

During the compensation campaign I was contacted by hundreds of people throughout the country. The details I gave them of free advice or advice that charged 10% only saved many of them £thousands. When asked by the Guardian to list the things that I have done as an MP that I am proud of, endowment campaigning was high on the list. It was a very successful and worthwhile campaign.

Although I am far from perfect, I am not guilty as charged by you. I will continue to hurl the bricks at those who deserve criticism. It's the best part of my job. Have a look at my recent EDM on a so-called 'miracle 'cure for Dyslexia.

[Paul Flynn]

Thank you Patrick. If Jolly Roger reveals his identity, I will send the two quid he is asking for by the end of the week.

[Patrick]

Hopefully other readers of this blog will be as concerned at Jollys plight as me.
I'm prepared to lead the way here and launch a 'Help Jolly campaign'. A friend suggested calling it 'Save JR' as of the Dallas character in the 80's.

JR has raised my awareness and made me realise that yes people in the UK really are living in deprived and Third world circumstances.
The above campaign could swiftly arrange payments for Jollys holidays, Electric and Gas ,Computers and Internet fees, Fuel for his 4-track, alcohol
and Tea bags (PG), and daily mail respectively.
We could arrange a whip around amongst the 6Million public sector workers in Britain.
'givejrhismoneyback.com'
A Pound a week from each could net JR 6million a week and soon put a stop to these rhymes.

[Jolly Roger.....Chwarae Teg Party.]

Whilst gaffes abound and bring their disgrace.
It would be nice to see the full story in place.
Ray Lewis is accused but not convicted,
But to your mind his guilt is clearly predicted.
Your graceless critique tells less of the man.
Do you deride him just 'coz you can?
Why not mention the work that he's done?
Steering the youth from the knife and the gun.

With the help of your pompous huffing and puffing.
Anyone would think he'd 'never done nuffing'.
As least he grasping an important 'nettle',
In guiding these kids from their weapons of metal.
His record on youth work shows at least that he's trying.
To stop more of these young kids dying.
Some Chwarae Teg, if you don't mind, old chap.
To balance your 'Labour is innocent' crap.

A more balanced view is hard to expect,
From a critic whose form is hardly perfect.
Libellous claims can be a bit pricey,
When the image portrayed is all nicey-nicey.
Someone once said "Don't throw the brick,
Unless you are sinless, you'll look like a p***k".
Not that I'd use that word in this place.
But £36K is hard to replace.

I can't go yet without mentioning your quote.
Give me a minute, I'll just get my coat.

"Multi-Millionaires urging the rest of us to take a pay-cut are not an edifying sight."

At the moment I saw it, I was leaning to leeboard,
And spluttered my tea onto screen and on keyboard.
I felt as if I'd been robbed by a mugger.
Then realised it was you, you cheeky old bugger.
Whilst not wishing to completely deride, eh?
How's about lending me two quid 'til Friday.