Sunday, 27 March 2011

Pal-less in Reform Club

Dame Hornet likes to get to clubland from time to time.When she heard her local government hero, Sir Cockle, was due in Pall Mall to lecture Reform Club members on the future of local government her excitement knew no bounds.

She had been told that the Political Committee's soirees attracted standing room audiences of over 80. With that in mind she managed to smuggle her way in early to avoid the rush.In dribs and drabs, a lacklustre group of local government 'anorak' members started to shuffle in. But where was  the crush of eager members? Just eight had turned up-not the normal eighty/ninety.

Looking down into Pall Mall from her eyrie on the curtain rail the Dame saw the Leader's Bentley behemoth RBKC 1 rolling to a halt in front of  the portico'd club entrance.The ever faithful chauffeur Spalding, rushed to ease the Dear Leader out from the rear.

But where were the press of eager members keen to hear about making money in local Government (don't you mean saving money in local government? Ed).  Tears welled up in Dear Leaders eyes: the triumphal moment he had been waiting for was just a damp squib. There was no sign  of his old friends Mr Pickles or Mr Shapps in the audience. None of the high and mighty of the Party he had worked so hard for had bothered to come along and listen to his witty and well crafted speech: a speech that he had spent days crafting and honing .

Was it all worthwhile he thought and then remembered the chunky £70k allowance,the fine hotels, first class travel and all the other trappings of power he so relished-that did make it all worthwhile. 

3 comments:

  1. The Dame should not be surprised by the poor turn out. Reformers can figure out a loser and freeloader when they see one.

    http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23710354-first-class-travel-and-fine-dining-council-chiefs-trips-to-ny-on-expenses.do

    Conservative Councillors in Kensington and Chelsea diminish themselves by allowing this person to lead them

    It is pathetic

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just to make it easier for readers, I reproduce the Evening Standard text below:


    Merrick Cockell, Conservative leader of Kensington and Chelsea, flew first class, ate at one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city and stayed in a five-star hotel.

    He was also entertained in London by a series of property developers, including being lunched at the Ritz.

    One of the New York trips was paid for by Kensington and Chelsea and the other by London Councils, which represents the capital's 33 local authorities. Mr Cockell is its chairman.

    The disclosure comes after Mayor Boris Johnson's deputy, Ian Clement, had his corporate credit card confiscated for using it to pay for supermarket shopping and upgrades to business-class flights.

    Mr Cockell made two trips to New York. During the first, in January 2007, he dined at The Four Seasons, one of the city's most famous restaurants. It has hosted John F Kennedy and wife Jackie, American Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Henry Kissinger. New York magazine describes it as where "members of the town's power menagerie gather".

    The dinner cost $185 (£98.68 at the exchange rate at the time). Mr Cockell did not declare who he ate with.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sir Cockle sound a greedy lad

    ReplyDelete

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