Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Prescott in Yet Another Freebie Row

Pressure on John Prescott intensified this afternoon following reports in the London Evening Standard that he had received free tickets to a soccer match in Los Angeles, courtesy of Tim Leiweke, chief exec if Anschutz's AEG company. Naturally enough Prescott saw no need to register the hospitality. Surely now the Prime Minister has to ask Sir John Bourn to investigate. If not, you have to ask: what is the point of Sir John, apart from serving as a figleaf to cover the PM's embarrassment?

UPDATE: John Prescott did not register the free tickets. A correspondent points out that if a County Councillor was in the same situation he would be reported to the Standards Board for England under legislation drawn up by... yep, you've guessed it, the Rt Hon John Prescott MP. On law for Prezza, one law for the rest of us. This government gets more like a scene from Animal Farm every day.

UPDATE: The Ministry of Truth has more investigation into the Casino, Dome and Philip Anschutz's business career HERE.

UPDATE: Greenwich Coiuncillor Nigel Fletcher has an interesting post HERE on a PriceWaterhouseCoopers Report on the Dome and a Casino. He has requested it be published under an FOI. Now, why would a LABOUR council want to hide a report on the Dome casino bid at the moment?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I understand the other use for Sir John is as a foot rest.

You are quite right; indeed, if the man had dignity, honour and self-respect he would resign and give his reasons clearly.

Anonymous said...

Sir John Bourn does not report to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister cannot ask him to do anything. Get your facts right.

It would also be nice if the person calling himself machiavelli could justify his slur.

Anonymous said...

He seems to be mainly an accountant:
http://www.nao.org.uk/conferences/biographies/bourn.htm
Not sure that's much help when dealing with The Prescott - a Sleazefinder General is what's really needed. Someone more like Vincent Price in the Withchfinder General but without the gentlemanly virtues.

Anonymous said...

Sleazefinder General - oh how I wish. Trouble is, that would probably mean most of the Blairite Tendency dangling from the gibbet. Much as I believe our Presbyterian wannabe wishes to be rid of his enemies, I don't think he wants to lead a minority Government.

Anonymous said...

Ah, 'The Pit and the Pendulum'! (OK, well perhaps a chipolata-slicer at any rate.)

Anonymous said...

Bagehot would have described Prescott as the decorative part of the Constitution

strapworld said...

anonymous is obviously sitting in the Labour Party bunker, under orders to single handedly
take on Iain Dales Diary and Guy Fawkes. His contributions are becoming more and more hysterical.....yet appears to dislike the Lonesome Cowboy as much as over 70% of the populace.

anonymous...get a life and join a decent party!

Theo Spark said...

When does Blair go on holiday because I don't want to be here with Fatty in charge!

Anonymous said...

Yes, Yes. But isn't the role of official fig leaf written in as part of the John Bourn's Job Specification? If it isn't then someone's not doing their job properly and ought to be fired.

On second thoughts.....

Anonymous said...

The only way to cope Iain, is to enjoy your 18 holes.

Gary

Anonymous said...

What work did Prescott actually do during his US trip in July 2005? Any at all? What was the pretext given for the visit at the time? Is there any way of finding out?

Honeymoon with Tracey Temple?

Scipio said...

Sleazefinder general? What we need is politicians who don't need constantly policing, public servents who actualy believe in ....er...'serving the public', and the renewal of civil society, the voluntary sector, and the end of the 'what's in it for me' culture. But getting rid of Labour would be a splendid place to start - with that disgrace John Prescott's head first on the platter!

Scipio said...

Sleazefinder general? What we need is politicians who don't need constantly policing, public servents who actualy believe in ....er...'serving the public', and the renewal of civil society, the voluntary sector, and the end of the 'what's in it for me' culture. But getting rid of Labour would be a splendid place to start - with that disgrace John Prescott's head first on the platter!

Anonymous said...

Herewith justification:

"The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair): I have today appointed Sir John Bourn KCB as the independent adviser on Ministers' interests. He will provide advice to Ministers and permanent secretaries on the handling of Ministers' private interests as set out in Section 5 of the ministerial code.

"Under the terms of the code, Ministers are required to provide their Permanent Secretaries with a list in writing of their interests which could give rise to a conflict of interest. As a matter of routine permanent secretaries will send Sir John Bourn copies of Ministers' disclosures with a note of any action agreed. He will also be sent any updates of the disclosures. This will allow Sir John to confirm that he is satisfied with the arrangements put in place.

"It will, of course, remain the personal responsibility of Ministers to decide how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the code, and if necessary to justify their actions and conduct in Parliament.

"Sir John is highly respected as the Comptroller and Auditor General and is ideally suited to the job of independent adviser on Ministers' interests. His impartiality and integrity are beyond reproach. I am delighted that Sir John has accepted the job which he starts with immediate effect." (House of Commons Hansard, 23 Mar 2006: Column 34WS)

Since either a) the Government are completely ignoring his advice, or b) he's not giving any, or c) he's complicit, he should resign in disgust/shame (delete as applicable).

It is also the case that the Prime Minister CAN ask Sir John to do anything (including getting down on all fours for the PM to rest his feet), though he cannot, since he is 'independent', order him to do anything.

Sir John's current position is somewhat like the look-out posted in the Titanic's bows who, reporting an iceberg dead ahead, was happy for the ship not to change course.

In his position, I could not in all conscience take a salary for a job that I wasn't doing.

Anonymous said...

I think anonymous ought to get his facts right...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4954152.stm

A spokesman for Sir John Bourn, the prime minister's newly appointed adviser on ministerial conflicts of interest, said he had not been asked to investigate allegations that the Deputy Prime Minister broke the ministerial code of conduct.

There have been suggestions Mr Prescott would become the first minister to be investigated by Sir John, appointed by Tony Blair in the wake of the controversy over Tessa Jowell and her husband's business dealings.

But the spokesman for Sir John said he would not expect to be asked to carry out an investigation "because he is the prime minister's independent adviser on minister's financial interests".


Written Ministerial Statements
Thursday, 23 March 2006

Tony Blair (Prime Minister):

I have today appointed Sir John Bourn KCB as the independent adviser on Ministers' interests. He will provide advice to Ministers and permanent secretaries on the handling of Ministers' private interests as set out in Section 5 of the ministerial code.

Under the terms of the code, Ministers are required to provide their Permanent Secretaries with a list in writing of their interests which could give rise to a conflict of interest. As a matter of routine permanent secretaries will send Sir John Bourn copies of Ministers' disclosures with a note of any action agreed. He will also be sent any updates of the disclosures. This will allow Sir John to confirm that he is satisfied with the arrangements put in place.

It will, of course, remain the personal responsibility of Ministers to decide how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the code, and if necessary to justify their actions and conduct in Parliament.
Sir John is highly respected as the Comptroller and Auditor General and is ideally suited to the job of independent adviser on Ministers' interests. His impartiality and integrity are beyond reproach. I am delighted that Sir John has accepted the job which he starts with immediate effect.

Anonymous said...

He seems to be mainly an accountant:

What an odd qualification for the Head of the National Audit Office - not even a gynaecologist as you would expect in such a post

Anonymous said...

What fun Mr. Prescott is providing for us. Unfortunately if he resigns it may all blow away - please tell me that you will stay on his case even if he does resign or gets fired.

Anonymous said...

I have just watched BBC London news, and they showed a lovely little piece about myor Ken's latest press conference.

In it he says the Prezza played a "VITAL" role in securing the deal for the dome.

Does that make these gifts a little more sinister?

Anonymous said...

normally I wouldn't think that a couple of tickets was either here nor there, but as a County Councillor I am subject to just this sort of declaration. An obligation imposed by John Prescotts department!

dizzy said...

Purely as an aside, has anyone read some of the utter crap that comes before the Standards Board sometimes?

Anonymous said...

Re Prescott's $20,000 of free Western wear, did the DPM declare these gifts to Customs and pay duty on them?

Could someone check whether he swanned, a la Cherie Antoinette Blair, through the Green Channel, or did he pay up? Tee hee. Silly question, I know. But if he went through the Green Channel, he broke the law.

Praguetory said...

Prescient time to reflect on the shortlist for the super-casino;

The Dome (Greenwich): Labour borough council, Labour MP
Wembley (Brent): Lib Dems largest party in borough council, 2 Labour MPs, 1 Lib Dem MP
Blackpool: Labour council, 2 Labour MPs
Manchester: Labour council, 4 Labour MPs, 1 Lib Dem MP
Glasgow: Labour council, 10 Labour MSPs, 6 Labour MPs (plus the Speaker)
Newcastle: Lib Dem council, 4 Labour MPs
Sheffield: Labour Council, 5 Labour MPs, 1 Lib Dem MP

And then we have the Solihull bid at the NEC (backed by Birmingham City Council). Central location, at a major conference venue, with excellent road, rail and air connections:
Solihull: Conservative council, 1 Conservative MP, 1 Lib Dem MP