Gubberment jobs
Discussion
Alistair Darling. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Qualified Solicitor.
In what way does this qualify him to run HM Treasury, being responsible for all economic and financial matters of the UK?
How much does he get paid? Not a great deal I suspect?
Shouldn't the UK be paying top whack for the best in the country?
Look at this guy...I want him running the country finances (or someone equally as good) Not a solicitor.
Curriculum vitae
Name: Andrew Higginson
Age: 50
Qualification: FCMA
Chairmanships: Tesco Personal Finance
Non-executive, independent directorships: BskyB
Member of The Hundred Group of Finance Directors
Career
1997- Group finance and strategy director, Tesco plc
1994-97 Group finance director, The Burton Group plc
1990-94 Finance director, Laura Ashley Holdings plc
1987-90 Finance director, Guinness Brewing International
1986-87 Controller, Guinness Overseas (Brewing) Ltd
1984-86 Commercial manager, Lever Brothers China Ltd
1980-84 Internal Auditor, UCMDS Graduate Entry Scheme, Unilever plc
What other Government jobs are there where the person doing it is equally unqualified to do so?
In what way does this qualify him to run HM Treasury, being responsible for all economic and financial matters of the UK?
How much does he get paid? Not a great deal I suspect?
Shouldn't the UK be paying top whack for the best in the country?
Look at this guy...I want him running the country finances (or someone equally as good) Not a solicitor.
Curriculum vitae
Name: Andrew Higginson
Age: 50
Qualification: FCMA
Chairmanships: Tesco Personal Finance
Non-executive, independent directorships: BskyB
Member of The Hundred Group of Finance Directors
Career
1997- Group finance and strategy director, Tesco plc
1994-97 Group finance director, The Burton Group plc
1990-94 Finance director, Laura Ashley Holdings plc
1987-90 Finance director, Guinness Brewing International
1986-87 Controller, Guinness Overseas (Brewing) Ltd
1984-86 Commercial manager, Lever Brothers China Ltd
1980-84 Internal Auditor, UCMDS Graduate Entry Scheme, Unilever plc
What other Government jobs are there where the person doing it is equally unqualified to do so?
The Chancellor only asks the Treasury to implement his policies based on the party line.
The fact that head of the treasury & the Bank of England are quite financially astute and good enough to the job has no baring on their ability to implement and deliver fiscal policy that will not work and changes direction quicker than Gordon Brown election trail everytime he insults someone and has to turn round to apologise.
Basically no minister is qualified to run the country. They have very little experience, qualifications and capability in directing strategic operations to maximum effect. If you want an effectively/efficently run country a political lead society is not the answer. I'll be clear here you can have democracy without politics.
The fact that head of the treasury & the Bank of England are quite financially astute and good enough to the job has no baring on their ability to implement and deliver fiscal policy that will not work and changes direction quicker than Gordon Brown election trail everytime he insults someone and has to turn round to apologise.
Basically no minister is qualified to run the country. They have very little experience, qualifications and capability in directing strategic operations to maximum effect. If you want an effectively/efficently run country a political lead society is not the answer. I'll be clear here you can have democracy without politics.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 28th April 16:48
Here's the irony aboiut the whole Lord Ashcroft thing - you can wiki the guy if you need to know about him.
I'll tell you this for free - I'd rather have a chap like this batting for my side, with a proven business track record, obviously savvy and shrewd and understands what the majority of business wants for a competitive country.
The facts about his non-dom status is irrelevant in my book - he's playing the same game as a number of other Labour peers and is far more qualified as a consultant/guru.
I'll tell you this for free - I'd rather have a chap like this batting for my side, with a proven business track record, obviously savvy and shrewd and understands what the majority of business wants for a competitive country.
The facts about his non-dom status is irrelevant in my book - he's playing the same game as a number of other Labour peers and is far more qualified as a consultant/guru.
Puggit said:
amir_j said:
The Lords by definition have to be completely clean.
Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
So lets get read of Mandelson too...Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
Seems a fair swap
OneDs said:
Why not just because he doesn't live here doesn't mean he doesn't have a siginificant stake and interest in how the country is run.
Conflict of interest.An example- Many companies in the UK use tax loopholes to avoid paying tax here and instead to their home country/lesser tax hq etc etc- do you want someone debating this bill who sympathises and favours it.
amir_j said:
If he wants to be a Lord in the UK, how can he not be paying all tax here for f' sake. The Lords by definition have to be completely clean.
Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
Ok - let's, for the sake of argument, look at his history. He has taken bankrupt businesses from nothing to huge international companies with hundreds and thousands of employees. I'm sure, and I am guessing here, that until relatively recently he was a full tax paying bloke - then he realised that he can 'personally' skip that bit, because the incumbent government allowed it, and moves his stuff to Belize.Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
On the flip side - I do agree that a Lord of the Realm should be a fully fledged, bona fide UK citizen with all that goes with it. However, I still say that his actions have probably created more tax income than most through his own, and his business and employees tax.
Asterix said:
amir_j said:
If he wants to be a Lord in the UK, how can he not be paying all tax here for f' sake. The Lords by definition have to be completely clean.
Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
Ok - let's, for the sake of argument, look at his history. He has taken bankrupt businesses from nothing to huge international companies with hundreds and thousands of employees. I'm sure, and I am guessing here, that until relatively recently he was a full tax paying bloke - then he realised that he can 'personally' skip that bit, because the incumbent government allowed it, and moves his stuff to Belize.Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
On the flip side - I do agree that a Lord of the Realm should be a fully fledged, bona fide UK citizen with all that goes with it. However, I still say that his actions have probably created more tax income than most through his own, and his business and employees tax.
Edited by amir_j on Wednesday 28th April 17:27
amir_j said:
Asterix said:
amir_j said:
If he wants to be a Lord in the UK, how can he not be paying all tax here for f' sake. The Lords by definition have to be completely clean.
Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
Ok - let's, for the sake of argument, look at his history. He has taken bankrupt businesses from nothing to huge international companies with hundreds and thousands of employees. I'm sure, and I am guessing here, that until relatively recently he was a full tax paying bloke - then he realised that he can 'personally' skip that bit, because the incumbent government allowed it, and moves his stuff to Belize.Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
On the flip side - I do agree that a Lord of the Realm should be a fully fledged, bona fide UK citizen with all that goes with it. However, I still say that his actions have probably created more tax income than most through his own, and his business and employees tax.
Mandleson makes me ashamed to be British through his actions. Ashcroft makes me proud through his.
amir_j said:
True, but Mandy is the "if you attack him you better kill him, or he will get back up and kill you" type. Not many people dare to take him on- unless labour lose so heavily that all the people he no doubt has dirt on step down so a clean slate.
Definately - I loath him with a passion but I respect him more - to do any less would be foolish. He's a clever operator.What I don't understand is why he's backing Brown still - he dead, done, finished, especially after today. Maybe it is a New Labour last hurrah before he moves on.
I know he has said that he will work with the Tories would they have him.
He's a scary man and possibly the true power in the UK at the moment until May 6th.
Asterix said:
What I don't understand is why he's backing Brown still - he dead, done, finished, especially after today. Maybe it is a New Labour last hurrah before he moves on.
I know he has said that he will work with the Tories would they have him.
He's a scary man and possibly the true power in the UK at the moment until May 6th.
Apparently its not about helping Brown that he agreed to come back, it was to help the party- Mandelson belives in and his loyalties lie with the Labour party due to his Grandfather being a labour minister. (one of his few admirable qualities is his loyalty to those he likes e.g. Blair) He allegedly also harbours a desire to be PM one day.I know he has said that he will work with the Tories would they have him.
He's a scary man and possibly the true power in the UK at the moment until May 6th.
Edited by amir_j on Wednesday 28th April 17:45
Fair enough - he'll have to do a 'Benn' though and I have a feeling that he won't - or should that be can't because there's no way that Labour will b...
You know what - it has just struck me that it is his grand plan for Brown to fail like this - he'll turn to the party and say that he'll be the saviour should it come to a hung parliament if they get rid of Brown. He is in a unique position of shaping international policy through favours (you know the Bilderberg lot?) and convince Clegg to jump to his tune and will provide Clegg the 'Kingmaker' role.
He'll be humble, he'll get this to work.
I wonder why Clegg has said that he would still deal with the Labour party, even if they get the lowest popular vote (which now seems obvious), providing Brown is out of the way.
Hmmmm.
You know what - it has just struck me that it is his grand plan for Brown to fail like this - he'll turn to the party and say that he'll be the saviour should it come to a hung parliament if they get rid of Brown. He is in a unique position of shaping international policy through favours (you know the Bilderberg lot?) and convince Clegg to jump to his tune and will provide Clegg the 'Kingmaker' role.
He'll be humble, he'll get this to work.
I wonder why Clegg has said that he would still deal with the Labour party, even if they get the lowest popular vote (which now seems obvious), providing Brown is out of the way.
Hmmmm.
amir_j said:
Asterix said:
amir_j said:
If he wants to be a Lord in the UK, how can he not be paying all tax here for f' sake. The Lords by definition have to be completely clean.
Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
Ok - let's, for the sake of argument, look at his history. He has taken bankrupt businesses from nothing to huge international companies with hundreds and thousands of employees. I'm sure, and I am guessing here, that until relatively recently he was a full tax paying bloke - then he realised that he can 'personally' skip that bit, because the incumbent government allowed it, and moves his stuff to Belize.Employ him as a adviser by all means but not instill someone who is not wholly committed to the good of the UK into the House of Lords.
On the flip side - I do agree that a Lord of the Realm should be a fully fledged, bona fide UK citizen with all that goes with it. However, I still say that his actions have probably created more tax income than most through his own, and his business and employees tax.
Edited by amir_j on Wednesday 28th April 17:27
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff