What you never see on TV during political party confernces are the huge" exhibition" areas set aside for Fortune and FTSE 100 companies and Lobbyists.
In a security capacity, I visited 4 conferneces whilst on duty. The size and number of these hospitality stands took my breath away. I could not see, why with so many apparent checks and balances in place, all these businesses were forking out for these stands?
In other parts of the world, BAe may be parting with similar amounts of money to achieve a similar effect. Now I have been in industry a while I understand a bit more about Westminster and how pro-constituency, or pro-government messages from the industry side quickly find their way into Whitehall procurement teams. Who gets the best message over wins.
Who are we in UKto judge people living 3,000 or even 5,000 miles away by our values and standards? I know of one country where the ruler keeps a book of countries he wants to do business with. Each country gets a turn in strict rotation. That is his rule, and to be honest, it may be more equitable that some in the West.
The French, for instance, place national interest above all else, the security of their economy and jobs is regarded as part of their national security. Not only do the French play by their rules, they play by the local guy's rules as well.
I am against big bungs for fat-cat investors, but I am also for local jobs for local British people.
There are a number of ways you can tell how a country looks after its population:
UK has 40 hospital beds per 10,000 head of population
US A larger nuclear power, 33 per 10,000
Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan , Serbia and Montenegro 53, 62 and 60.
France 76
Germany 86
Our NHS is that bad we are sending patients over to France all the time for operations. The French and the US now own a large slice of our Defence industry.
So tell me this: On a global scale, who has got their moral position right here??
