double standard?
We have had months of press coverage about MP’s expenses, with headlines and headline about taxpayers money being wasted. And it’s not just public money spent by MPs that have so outraged our newspapers, we have had numerous articles about the amount the BBC spends on its “key talent” like Ross and Wogan, and only a couple of weeks ago there were front page stories expressing outrage about BBC parties, flights and a £100 bottle of champagne given to Bruce Forsyth as an 80th birthday present by the BBC.
These reports all made valid points about greed and waste but hang on what do we have here…………leading politicians are holding summer drinks parties. Night after night during July cabinet members and shadow cabinet members host free drinks parties but there is not a peep in the press about who is footing the bill. That may seem strange until you realise that the guests at these free drink soirees are the very same journalists that were so puritanical about “our” money being wasted. Seems to me an indefensible waste of money that Westminster free parties are held for Westminster journalists whilst the dole queues grow. Its reminiscent of Nero fiddling whilst Rome burns.
I want to know how much these Summer parties cost , not to mention the ones they also hold at christmas….I feel a freedom of information request coming on as its the only way we will ever know as I am certain there wont be any outraged front page s exposing it!. Funny that eh?
Sorry T…just this once I don’t agree with you and it’s not because I’m a hack (I don’t go to these drinks parties anyway).
There a world of difference in MPs claiming on expenses for personal gain and a department’s hospitality bill.
No one has ever said there should be no spending whatsoever by MPs or parliament itself.
Nor do I think that cancelling these parties would necessarily stop the dole queues growing.
xx
Solly
I get your point Solly. I agree that the MPs issue is a scandal, but I think if the drinks parties were for anyone but journos there would be a story in it for some papers.
And I dont think stopping the wine flowing would stop the dole queues growning but its about perception.
That said we must have a drink sometime!
I must say, I agree that the perception is a problem – but I have no problem with the actual parties. I think it should be made less elitist however. Sure, the media need time to discuss different matters with important figures – but on the other hand, there’s an army of people who earnestly write blogs or who write to their MPs who would like the same chance. A bit of democratic egalitarianism might help with the perception.