Archive for July 17th, 2010
Ingrams on the Goldsmith dynasty
What Dr Johnson called "the insolence of wealth" characterised the career of the late Sir James Goldsmith, and it seems to be the same sort of story with his son Zac, recently elected as Tory MP for Richmond Park.
Zac now faces embarrassing questions, raised by C4 News, about his election expenses. The accusation is that he spent large sums on such items as 200 blue anoraks with an "I back Zac" panel on the rear, but arranged his accounts so that the true cost was concealed.
Even prior to the election Goldsmith had made a donation of £264,000 for the notional use of an office and staff to the Richmond Park Conservative Party, prompting suggestions that despite the great Reform Act of 1832, there were still ways whereby very rich men could buy their way into parliament.
Responding to the C4 News report, Zac described it as "entirely dishonest, totally misleading and in my view profoundly unethical". That strikes the authentic Goldsmith note of humbug. His father Sir James, however, would not have approved. He himself would by now have issued a barrage of libel writs against C4, alleging a Marxist conspiracy against him. So Zac still has a lot to learn about how to deal with his critics.
Australia go to the polls 21st August
Against a backdrop of political intrigue and treachery, Australians will vote in what is likely to be a bruising federal election on August 21.
Less than a month after unexpectedly toppling her predecessor, Labour PM Julia Gillard (born in Wales) faces the greatest challenge of her career.
Her shock ousting of Kevin Rudd showed the utter ruthlessness that has helped her to rise to the apex of Australian politics.
Her conservative rival, Tony Abbott (born in London), is equally combative but can be impulsive, believes voters will be uneasy at the callous way that Mr Rudd was ambushed by Labour heavyweights.
This will be a good fight and with activist Mort organising in his locale we should get some interesting insights from down under.