Forum Topic

I find these news disappointing (understatement)

Julian Lewis' reaction to having the Whip withdrawn - interesting though very sad readinghttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-mp-julian-lewis-kicked-out-of-conservative-parliamentary-party-hits-back-a4499906.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2dUdfY7G1kPyWmoq1JwLlpVKvGswJYTmL_LNARbP5i6xa9F4WZZTxBngs#Echobox=1594889969When secret coronavirus contracts [amounting to some £2billion] are awarded without competition, it is deadly serious (Particularly as they were awarded to companies that do not manufacture PPE equipment and then, nothing is produced)https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/15/coronavirus-contracts-government-transparency-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR3zKk_udXLIz7P9SvfE6H9cN_4t_TfBF4E_5gLyEOJpYg52W07rEffIzZ8And yes, I have read about this elsewhere so I Googled the companies and most are reported to have received different amounts of funding but very little PPE was produced.  If we cast our minds back to April, I think, the government indicated it had been contacted by some 16,000 firms who were able and prepared to provide PPE without delay.  Not surprising, many of these companies complained that the government had not responded.  Wonder why?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2093d11 Comments

The Conservative Party is inherently corrupt at the top - like the proverbial fish which rots from its head down. As a member and lifelong Conservative voter, I have only recently reached this conclusion and deserve to be criticised for taking my time (I will not renew the membership).For many years I have seen an advantage from what the party does - particularly at a local level. However, I have come to realise that allowing the party to prosper locally, whilst that might support my preferences, allows the corrupt national party to prosper also. The local party could always disaffiliate and pursue the same policies. I'm jumping ship.

Michael Winstanley ● 2091d

I don't know who I'd suggest you write and complain to. It does seem to be par for the course over the years. Satire always seemed particularly effective. I remember Spitting Image being particularly scathing. Perhaps you should encourage younger people to use satire on say youtube to make the point about corruption in politics!

Katrina Black ● 2091d

Chairman of the Conservative party? Chairman of the 1922 Committee? I did write about something and eventually got an apologetic reply from some junior in the correspondence dept. I always play the card, I used to be, but no longer am, a party member. There's that line in a Shakespeare sonnet, Lillies that fester smell far worse than weeds.They've lost thousands of members in recent years. I suppose that doesn't matter much if foreign oligarchs are donating zillions, but they still need little people to tramp the streets leafleting, canvassing etc, which is how Johnson got to City Hall.Is this latest thing much different from Grayling giving a contract for ferries to a company that had no ships?Do write to Johnson, party chairman, someone. Griping on this forum gets it off one's chest, but is pointless. If enough people contact them, it might eventually occur to someone that people aren't happy. and those Red Wall seats are not secure.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2091d

I agree with all of you, from mafia state, to corruption and, if proved true, fraud.What can we do about this?  I suppose write to our MP, even write to BJ, though I doubt this will have any effect.  Anything else?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2092d

My understanding is that the kits might give an incorrect result - obviously a high rate of false negatives would be extremely serious as it could feed incorrect information into the test, trace, isolate system meaning potentially infectious people wouldn't be quarantined thus spreading the disease. The report I heard suggested the kits carried a CE mark but when checked the documentation substantiating the testing and certification required for the CE accreditation couldn't be evidenced. In my book, if true, that's fraud.

Michael Ixer ● 2092d

It's even worse than Matt and Jonathan have suggested: it's been reported today that use of the kits produced by Randox has been suspended because "some" (how many?) of them "may not meet our required safety standards" (how serious is the divergence from safety standards?). Altogether, a corrupt and potentially dangerous episode.

Richard Carter ● 2092d

The George Monbiot article about these procurement deals will hopefully be picked up by various parliamentary scrutiny committees and the National Audit Office. This could become of the biggest scandals to emerge from the crisis - the quite disgraceful lining on mates’ pockets since, well, since the last time. Cummings also has financial ties to companies currently enjoying govt largesse.  The pong is appalling.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2092d

All Randox covid testing kits to be withdrawn from use.Randox was given £133 million pound contract to produce these kits without any other firm being allowed to bid.Randox employs tory Owen Patterson as a 'consultant' for £100k a year.We basically live in a mafia state.

Matt Palmer ● 2092d

We shall have to wait till next week, when the report will supposedly be published.  Of course, by then, Parliament will be in recess.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2093d

Surely all states with an interest will be meddling in UK elections. After all it is what the UK does.The question is to what extent and how successful were they?

Ed Robinson ● 2093d

And let us not forget Dominic Raab today indicated that the Russians sought to meddle in the 2019 election - and now also revealed Russians are targeting the coronavirus vaccine.... The list is now getting very long!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2093d