Readers are fed up of MPs justifying freebies
Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Was the change they promised into new suits?
Regarding the controversy over government politicians accepting gifts (Metro, Mon). Does culture secretary Lisa Nandy not understand how incendiary her words, ‘All MPs take gifts and donations’ are to people, especially at a time when Labour is stealing the winter fuel allowance from freezing pensioners?
Clearly she felt that politicians are entitled to these freebies. However, receiving favours only adds to the stench of corruption around Westminster – the ‘I’ll scratch your back and you’ll scratch mine’ of politics.
Labour claim to be out to help their constituents but most of the time they seem to be out to help themselves.
The party ran on the mandate of change. However, I hadn’t appreciated that the change they promised was actually into new suits, new spectacles and a move from the cheap seats to a VIP box at Arsenal.
Naively, I thought the Tories had sleaze properly sewn up but Labour are hot on their heels. This is the exact reason why people do not trust politicians.
Sadly, democracy only works if we do trust our politicians.
If this continues, then in five years time, the electorate will also be demanding change… a change in government. Steven, London
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Nothing is for free
I am fed up of hearing MPs – whether in government or not – wealthy people and millionaires saying they have broken no rules in accepting freebies.
Can these people not appreciate how selfish and money-grabbing this looks? Have they no moral compass whatsoever? John, Orpington
I don’t think any MP or person in public office should be taking gifts from anyone, be it clothes or holidays.
What does the donor expect in return, I wonder? Nothing is free. Alan, Sunderland
Pensioners may not enjoy a winter wonderland after losing the winter fuel payment but, as Starmer often reminds us while talking down the economy and our country, he is taking the ‘tough decisions’.
The prime minister has probably told party donor Lord Alli what he wants for Christmas. A moral compass? Lester May, Camden
Who really needs donations?
The donors should give their donations to food banks instead of to the prime minister and the government. Norman, Larkhall
MPs get a pretty good deal with expenses. But now we hear some of the top dogs don’t even pay for their togs.
The cost-of-living crisis must be worse than I thought.
Is this why, playing my part as a pensioner, I must forgo help with heating? Fred, South-East London
No politician offered gifts or freebies is so poor they have to accept them.
They should tell donors, ‘Thank you for your generosity but please give it to the poor families or towards help with children and young people’s mental and physical development.’ Samuel, Tooting
It’s clear the Labour Party is split. Starmer’s opposition won’t come from Conservatives but from his back benches.
The leaking of the salary of the prime minister’s chief of staff, Sue Gray, is the start of a power struggle from within.
The two-party system is broken and the big parties are incapable of leading. We need a change. Neil Dance, Birmingham
‘I knew a Harrods worker, Fayed was known as a sexual predator’
The many allegations against Mohamed Fayed (the ‘al-’ was an invention of his own) are shocking but hardly a surprise (Metro, Mon).
The former Harrods boss, who died last year aged 94, was accused of raping and sexually assaulting more than 20 female employees in a BBC documentary last week.
Our outrage should be directed at a system and society that allow the powerful to commit such abuses with impunity.
Fayed died in his bed instead of in prison because he was shielded by other powerful people who knew what was happening. He was protected by his wealth and the law.
About 30 years ago, a family friend was a senior buyer at Harrods. She recounted how some staff tried to warn new recruits about Fayed’s penchant for young girls, the invitations to meet the boss in private and the threats against those who resisted his ‘charms’.
This was common knowledge throughout the organisation. But no one lifted a finger to stop the abuse, least of all the media. Editors were either in thrall to the man or warned off by lawyers.
Abuse hides in dark corners. It also thrives in plain sight if people are afraid to speak out, especially if they are fearful of a ruinous libel suit.
We need to put drastic curbs on all these legal methods the powerful use to prevent the truth being told.
The government must reform our outdated slander laws and ban the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. Stephen Spark, Balham
Max Verstappen’s bad language
Max Verstappen responded to complaints by Formula One governing body president Mohammed Ben Sulayem about too much swearing in the sport by saying, ‘What are we, five-year-olds?’ (Metro, Fri).
Max should say that because English is his second language, he will only talk in Dutch, just to be safe. This is what happens when you sell the sport to the US and Middle East.
The result appears to be that the average fan is now most interested in Lewis Hamilton’s latest tattoos or who’s cutest: Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc?
Having worked in the industry for 45 years, I can assure you that one of the side interests of working abroad is learning about everyday language from real local workers – in all its forms! David Alan Birt, via email
I got asked to sing in a 1970s karaoke session. At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Jeff, Nuneaton
‘A.I. not Al’
Can we start using the capital ‘i’ with the serifs when printing stories about artificial intelligence? Chris’s response about a view on the Labour Party (MetroTalk, Mon) confused the heck out of me until I realised he was talking about a guy named ‘AL’ and not about ‘A.I.’ Simon, Dewsbury