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Alan Bond's avatar

There is a clear distinction between 'earning' and 'being paid'. Most of us actually EARN our living by REAL graft while things like farrago the fascist earn NOTHING. They are grifters just like trumpty and his minions. The sooner they are ALL booted out of politics, the better !

Diana Brighouse's avatar

What hold has Farage got over the government? Surely he should and could have been held to account for not fulfilling his role as a constituency MP. By all reports he is rarely seen in Clacton. The extent of his 'earnings' demonstrates the time consumed by those activities (oh, sorry, he's one of those people who wake up richer than they were when they went to sleep - Polanski's excellent definition of obscene (my descriptor) wealth).

I can't believe that we have to rely on Rupert Lowe's desire for vengeance against Nigel to bring him down.

Alexander Talbot Smith's avatar

Another well written and balanced piece Matt. Thank you for sharing this.

Heather Smith Thomassen's avatar

And why is the creature now on Substack. He should be banned and also stood down as MP for Clacton as he is not not representing them. Clacton was just a useful stepping stone for Farage. Hope those who voted for him have now seen through him (but I’m not holding my breath!)

Chris Rees's avatar

OUT F. A. RAGEous

Ned's avatar

He is - as he said - a Hugh Janus.

Nigel Cox's avatar

The grifter’s grifter!

Dominic Strange's avatar

In the 1980's I had a friend who had built a company from the ground up, he'd done so well that he'd become a small multinational. However, he'd seen injustices that he felt needed to be put right. His political views were not the same as mine, but one thing I knew about him was that he was honest.

He stood for parliament and was duly elected. He declared his business interests and initially left the business in the hands of his managers. His management team did not do as good a job as he'd hoped, so he had to re-take the helm.

He never lobbied for things that would help his business. He never short changed his constituents, but working in his spare hours he re-built his business.

What good would a blanket ban do for people like him, their families or their employees? I'm afraid it's called "throwing the baby out with the bath-water".

Diana Brighouse's avatar

A rare example I suspect. I think the principle is that no MP should have a second job, unless they need to put in a limited number of hours to maintain their professional qualifications (such as the medical practitioners who are MPs). In those cases the hours devoted outside parliament should be kept to an agreed minimum.

We also need to get away from the idea that you have to be wealthy to get into parliament in the first place. Westminster would benefit from a few more teachers, nurses, electricians - and yes, Hannah the plumber.

Phil Butt's avatar

Garage, Trump et al all share one thing in common - their utter contempt for those voters who elect them.

They are mere vehicles for them to gain positions that they can exploit for their own selfish ends.

Public office to help improve the interests of their electorate was never in their remit - only the advancement of themselves and those that they truly represent - the already rich and powerful.