ThePrisoner
Well-known member
Is this a new one? I'm finding it difficult to keep up with the corruption revelations.
Last week'sIs this a new one? I'm finding it difficult to keep up with the corruption revelations.
Don't worry, there'll be another one along in a minute.Is this a new one? I'm finding it difficult to keep up with the corruption revelations.
Thought this was common knowledge? Or am thinking of another Freeport scandal? There are so many...
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Ah well, it's only a small problem with the 2021\2022 and the 2022\2023 accounts. I was a bit peeved with Ben in the beginning (around the 25 million pounds of free scrap mark) wondering why I hadn't been picked to do what Corney and Musgrave do, but then it came out that their qualification, in Ben's eyes, was that they had millions of pounds in a bank account waiting to be spent on Teesside for our benefit, so I allowed myself to forget about itHalf a billion of taxpayers money later, Gibson waking up and accusing Ben of "giving away our children's future" and Messers Corney and Musgrave are £60 million up on just the scrap deal (not the most lucrative bit for them either) and are no nearer risking any of that lovely money in their bank account. Now that Starmer and co have had enough time to get their feet under the table, surely they need to have a look at this?
Well I understood that the issue with a National Audit Office investigation was that, unbelievably, they needed Ben's cooperation, but surely there is some way of letting in the sunshine on this? Jen Williams of the FT suggested a "value for money" notice (as the Government have done with various local councils)It appears Starmer’s appetite for investigating a popular Mayor has gone
Maybe locals should open their friggin eyes and make him less popular?It appears Starmer’s appetite for investigating a popular Mayor has gone
@BoroMart I appreciate the frustration, but we are, whether we like it or not, living in a world where there has been a resurgence in populist politics. All the arguments 'against' Ben and his STDC cronies (which did include our beloved Chairman until his eyes were opened) are complex political ones not easily explained in pithy 3 word slogans.Maybe locals should open their friggin eyes and make him less popular?
...and there is the problem, people are lazy thinkers, and easily manipulated by the internet. People have to be more vocal publicly. I'd start by calling out the local newspapers failure to properly support the local people by investigating this corruption. The government needs to crack down on social media too which has been weaponised by populist politics@BoroMart I appreciate the frustration, but we are, whether we like it or not, living in a world where there has been a resurgence in populist politics. All the arguments 'against' Ben and his STDC cronies (which did include our beloved Chairman until his eyes were opened) are complex political ones not easily explained in pithy 3 word slogans.
Well I wouldn't dream of suggesting that Mr Steve Gibson is a lazy thinker who is easily manipulated by the internet...and there is the problem, people are lazy thinkers, and easily manipulated by the internet. People have to be more vocal publicly. I'd start by calling out the local newspapers failure to properly support the local people by investigating this corruption. The government needs to crack down on social media too which has been weaponised by populist politics
When were the liars last not in charge?Well I wouldn't dream of suggesting that Mr Steve Gibson is a lazy thinker who is easily manipulated by the internetMuch more to it than that. The idea of the Government being able to 'crack down' on social media is not one that fills me with hope, as what happens to the truth when the liars are in charge of the Government?
NowWhen were the liars last not in charge?
Show me where I suggested there had been a time recently when those in power did not serve their own interests first? I was (badly) pointing out that putting politicians in charge of the media is rarely a good step for a democracy. Putting politicians in charge of determining what the truth is also has a poor history (with Pontius Pilate being the grandaddy here)When were the liars last not in charge?
Steve Gibson saw from the inside that things started to smell and distanced hoimself form it.Well I wouldn't dream of suggesting that Mr Steve Gibson is a lazy thinker who is easily manipulated by the internetMuch more to it than that. The idea of the Government being able to 'crack down' on social media is not one that fills me with hope, as what happens to the truth when the liars are in charge of the Government?
"Houchen's a cnut*"not easily explained in pithy 3 word slogans.
This is just the sort of stuff we need to keep digging for. Well done once again to NE Bylines for getting their teeth into this and not letting go.Here's some stuff about the dubious finances of Ben Houchen and his team:
https://northeastbylines.co.uk/regi...the-exciting-world-of-the-tees-valley-review/