Minister not guilty?

[johnlambert]

It looks like Tessa Jowell is going to be cleared of any wrong doing over this Italian money affair.

Anyone surprised?

I remember blair saying in 1997 that his goverment would be whiter than white,

[andy-hughes]

It appears that Ms. Jowell has not broken the rules applying to Ministers in terms of the declaration of financial gifts, but the matter is far from over.

Her husband appears to be still mired in some pretty shady goings-on with the Italian government, and there will be an element of guilt by association.

I can't help but think that neither of these two individuals assist their public profiles by treating questions from the media by adopting a face that makes them look as if they've trodden in something, and the producer of what ever it is is standing in front of them!

[livk]

andy -- couldnt agree more

[sp1814]

That's the problem when you have governments that have been in power too long...they get out of touch and a bit arrogant.

God only knows what it'd be like if we still had the Tories in. No doubt when they're elected at the next General Election, they'll have their noses in the trough like they had before.

Are there any decent people in public life who truly fight for what they believe (apart from Peter Tatchell)?

[johnlambert]

Fraid not, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely

[thikasabrik]

You can always tell when a politician is telling lies - whenever their mouth is moving.

I have often thought about a career in politics but I'd be severely hampered by the fact that I am not interested in bribes, threesomes, same sex relationships, free holidays, doing favours for cronies, paying for a peerage, telling fibs about weapons of mass destruction and I don't have a dodgy mortgage history. However, Mr Brik once foolishly accepted a freebie through work (a pen from a rep) so I guess I could be in with a chance.....

[mike1222]

Not surprised at all.

If my wife was given �300,000+ to clear our JOINT mortgage, of course I wouldn't ask her about her source - it happens all the time! The fact that I would have had to sign the necessary legal documents may not have even alerted me either! would I

Mrs Brik - you are dead right about the lying scumbags that govern us! I keep on saying this about them ad nauseum, but stupid people, of all political persuasuions, keep on voting for them, thus enabling them to keep their snouts in the political trough! They are ALL liars and are just out to feather their own nests!!