Nice to See You, To See You - Nice!
This year's guest list for Chequers has just been released - it shows all those invited to wine and dine with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - at his lavish grace and favour retreat in the heart of Buckinghamshire (aka middle-England).
In 2007/08 the cost of entertaining all the guests came to a mere £78,900 – but in these belt tightening, recessionary times the PM let rip – and almost doubled the budget to a whacking great £136,000 in 2008/09.
That’s one a hell of a lot of sausage rolls – so times can’t be that hard, in government circles at least.
As usual the great and good were all there – the stars of stage and screen – including old twinkle toes and presenter of Strictly Come Dancing - Bruce Forsyth, who’s had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, but it still going strong at the grand old age of 81.
Among other guests to raise a few eyebrows (looking backwards at least) were Sir Fred Goodwin – formerly Chief Executive of the Royal Bank Scotland – more recently elevated to Public Enemy No. 1 - for his role in almost destroying the bank and generally bringing the British economy to its knees.
Also present was Sir Victor Blank – former Chairman of Lloyds TSB – who was forced out the door by his own shareholders after buying up the HBOS bank – which was sold as a wonderful idea at the time – until a more sober assessment of the bank’s toxic assets showed HBOS up as just another basket case.
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown – allegedly - encouraged Sir Victor to step in and help the government out in its hour of need – but it all ended in tears anyway with both banks having to be bailed out by the taxpayer and now under effective under public ownership.
By their friends shall ye know them – as they say – but it looks as if Sir Fred and Sir Victor will be off the Chequers guest list next year!
Also noticeable – but only by their absence – were the handful of trade union bosses who pump of millions of pounds (of their members’ money) into the Labour Party’s coffers every year.
Now I would admire a trade union general secretary who wouldn’t cross the road for an invite to Chequers – but it just goes to show how little influence the trade unions have these days – not even in the same league as Bruce Forsyth.
Now that is a real sign of the times.
In 2007/08 the cost of entertaining all the guests came to a mere £78,900 – but in these belt tightening, recessionary times the PM let rip – and almost doubled the budget to a whacking great £136,000 in 2008/09.
That’s one a hell of a lot of sausage rolls – so times can’t be that hard, in government circles at least.
As usual the great and good were all there – the stars of stage and screen – including old twinkle toes and presenter of Strictly Come Dancing - Bruce Forsyth, who’s had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, but it still going strong at the grand old age of 81.
Among other guests to raise a few eyebrows (looking backwards at least) were Sir Fred Goodwin – formerly Chief Executive of the Royal Bank Scotland – more recently elevated to Public Enemy No. 1 - for his role in almost destroying the bank and generally bringing the British economy to its knees.
Also present was Sir Victor Blank – former Chairman of Lloyds TSB – who was forced out the door by his own shareholders after buying up the HBOS bank – which was sold as a wonderful idea at the time – until a more sober assessment of the bank’s toxic assets showed HBOS up as just another basket case.
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown – allegedly - encouraged Sir Victor to step in and help the government out in its hour of need – but it all ended in tears anyway with both banks having to be bailed out by the taxpayer and now under effective under public ownership.
By their friends shall ye know them – as they say – but it looks as if Sir Fred and Sir Victor will be off the Chequers guest list next year!
Also noticeable – but only by their absence – were the handful of trade union bosses who pump of millions of pounds (of their members’ money) into the Labour Party’s coffers every year.
Now I would admire a trade union general secretary who wouldn’t cross the road for an invite to Chequers – but it just goes to show how little influence the trade unions have these days – not even in the same league as Bruce Forsyth.
Now that is a real sign of the times.
