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Pretty certain Reeves won't be taking away the IHT exemption on political donations in next month's budget.
How is Rachel Reeves holiday to Cornwall related to politics ? The Education Secretaries 40th birthday party and her tickets to Taylor Swift ? Rayner's trip to NY ?For me it's simple. Donations should only be money and ideally only to the party. However, I accept that some people want to back individuals, not the party, so individuals should have a separate public bank account solely for donations. Why does Starmer's wife need new clothes from someone wealthy? How is that related to politics?
Same as with communications, anything involving public service should be recorded on a government phone and records held. They don't have to be published, but nothing should be done on private phones that can be deleted.
I failed to declare a bottle of water once at work given by a shop keeper on a really hot day. Resulting in one massive bo!!ocking and a form to fill out.I think it is one of these areas that raises more questions than answers.
What sort of things 'should' donors get in return for donating to a major political party that wins power? What would the public be willing to accept? Donating to a political party in many cases is like placing a bet or making an investment - donors will always expect something in return especially if that bet comes off and the party gains power.
If it's being wined and dined at No.10 followed by a tour of the building in Starmer's free time on a Saturday night then I couldn't care less and I don't think stuff like that is newsworthy. Awarding Government contracts to donors is a different kettle of fish because that involves taxpayer's money.
What is best practice in other developed countries? Would a benchmarking review show our politicians/ministers are being paid the going rate? I suspect a lot of the issues are down to our archaic convention based political system which is badly in need of an overhaul. I just want better control, transparency and politicians to be held to similar standards as people who work in the public and private sectors who have to adhere to codes of conduct, anti-bribery & corruption, conflict of interest rules, etc.
So no official pictures of the deputy PM at any event she attends or any other cabinet member?How is Rachel Reeves holiday to Cornwall related to politics ? The Education Secretaries 40th birthday party and her tickets to Taylor Swift ? Rayner's trip to NY ?
As for the photographer……PM's are allowed them, Deputies should pay themselves if they want such vanity projects.
A bunch of freeloaders by the sounds of it.
Isn't this story coming about because they are declaring this stuff?I failed to declare a bottle of water once at work given by a shop keeper on a really hot day. Resulting in one massive bo!!ocking and a form to fill out.
I should have said I'm saving tax payers money by not getting heat stroke.
There would be photos of her….she doesn't need an official photographer to capture her every move.So no official pictures of the deputy PM at any event she attends or any other cabinet member?
Let's cut off press officers entirely then!
Not quite correct.Isn't this story coming about because they are declaring this stuff?
Who would take them? Not everything she does is a press event. If she's holding a housing meeting (one of her big briefs) between various groups you'd expect there to be photos right? What about photography of any material that comes out of that work?There would be photos of her….she doesn't need an official photographer to capture her every move.
I can't see any allegations of impropriatry before he declared them based on updated advice. But I'm just doing a quick google search.Not quite correct.
Starmer was alleged to have possibly broken rules by not declaring his wife clothes, He didn't declare until they realised they had to. That's what started the ball rolling and all the details on tickets, Lord Ali's pass coming back up again etc.
Why do we need photos of them doing the job they are paid to do ? We're not America, for goodness sake.Who would take them? Not everything she does is a press event. If she's holding a housing meeting (one of her big briefs) between various groups you'd expect there to be photos right? What about photography of any material that comes out of that work?
You act like the government doesn't need to hire photgraphers at all.
My query would be far more along the lines is this most cost effective way of using official photographers (which we've always had loads) ratehr than having to schedule them all and dealing with schedule conflicts.
I failed to declare a bottle of water once at work given by a shop keeper on a really hot day. Resulting in one massive bo!!ocking and a form to fill out.
I should have said I'm saving tax payers money by not getting heat stroke.
Because we live a modern media age?Why do we need photos of them doing the job they are paid to do ?
The weird thing is business' have a huge rules around them about bribing and gifts to government officials in the USA (I do training on this almost yearly). The issue is private citizens can donate whatever the **** they like.You jest but if you remove limits and thresholds you are relying on people (politicians!) to exercise judgement on what they deem to be reasonable. That's when milking and taking the **** take over.
That's why there are limits (for tax purposes) on things like Christmas gifts for customers, employees etc. All I want is politicians being held to similar standards as us taxpayers who they are meant to be serving.
The weird thing is business' have a huge rules around them about bribing and gifts to government officials in the USA (I do training on this almost yearly). The issue is private citizens can donate whatever the **** they like.
How do you fund politics if you remove donations? I'm not trying to be any asshole. It's simple the current short money is woefully insufficient. So the money has to come from central government.
Are the general public willing to pay for that?
Who gives two f**ks about official photographs?So no official pictures of the deputy PM at any event she attends or any other cabinet member?