Gravy Train Stops For Lord Patten

[Peter Pedant]

Beeb news says that Lord Patten steps down after major heart surgery.

Surely we should be sorry that this long serving public servant ( failed MP) who served the country so long ( gave away Hong Kong ) and so effectively ( amassed huge pension rights as a Lord and Chmn of the Beeb - and as for the pay and pay-off of senior Beeb staff, golly ! ) has shown his humanity and mutability ( gets ill like the rest of us )

we all wish him a hearty recovery - I am sure.

[jno]

he didn't give away HK. It was no longer ours to give, you know that. The lease had run out.

[EcclesCake]

What an unpleasant post.

[factor-fiction]

I'd wish anyone a hearty recovery after major surgery.
I'm not sure he had an option regarding Hong Kong, and I recall it does seem closer to China than to the UK.

[Psybbo]

He did a good job in Northern Ireland

[ferlew]

Now, THAT ^^^^ is mean.
Shame on you PP.

[DTCwordfan]

He did a good job in HK as quite a few Governors of Her Maj's colonies found out, a very skewed deck of cards to play. To me, HK was Thatch's biggest foreign diplomacy disaster as she/they could have ended up with a model like what Monaco enjoys with France, in China being responsible for national defence.

Why? - Simply the model could have been used for enticing Taiwan, the bigger prize, back into the mainland fold.

However, Peter, this is not one of your better posts; in fact it's darn right bad taste for a man who has had his problems and why he didn't run for Prime or Pres of the EEC - Lavender put her foot down on those options.

[Prudie]

He wasn't born a 'toff' and all in all has been pretty harmless. I don't think he deserves such dislike, why should he?

[DTCwordfan]

He's also a very considerate man and will move heaven and earth to get things sorted out. Glad you weren't seriously ill in mainland with second-time chickenpox, Peter, as I would have left you there to rot with this attitude, and Patten wouldn't have moved to bridge you through (stupid) HK bureaucracy to get back on air ambulances to the UK.

[DTCwordfan]

in mainland China, thought I had inserted that in it's right position......

[Peter Pedant]

Even the Beeb is saying his chairmanship has been a disaster

excessive pay offs which may be unlawful
the Paxo piece about Savile which was spiked - but true
unedifying who-knew-what dispute with the DG
wastes £100 m ( of your money folkd!) on Dig Media Initiative

Beeb needs a new chairman
and possibly a new constitution

which really isnt bad for seven y work

[murraymints]

I wish the man a speedy recovery...

[ferlew]

Me too, had that op. The man did his best.

[jno]

Patten didn't spike the Savile programme.

[Jeza]

pp. This is not the first time you have got your facts wrong.

[DTCwordfan]

Sometimes Peter, you can be witty and spot on; this one, you are well wide of the mark and rather boorish actually, particularly with a man who has given his best for the country, perhaps a PM we should have had, and who is now very unwell.

An apology on your part would be appreciated by several.

[Peter Pedant]

No marks for effort...."I have squandered your money because I was ill" is not something I want to hear.

I am well aware the chairman has often insisted that whatever [awful] has happened has nothing to do with him. That is why I am glad to see him go.

and let us get someone in charge
who knows he is in charge.

[Farriercm]

£110,000 For a three day week, With a two hour lunch break , AND thats just his BBC job, what a CON.

[factor-fiction]

"...with a two hour lunchbreak"

That seems like nonsense to me, farriercom.

If he was a bad appointment questions need to be asked of those who appointed him and let him continue to underperform (if indeed he did)

[Prudie]

Slightly off-topic but it has been bothering me, I felt sure he first came to my notice years ago when he did a short spell as Minister for Education (before he took up the KK post) but I can't find any reference to it, am I confused?