GOVERNMENT HANDLING OF ROVER IS A DOG’S BREAKFAST

Posted by Caledonian Jim in Daily Posts

Businessmen who made millions of pounds from managing the Birmingham based sports-car company MG Rover (above) ahead of its collapse in 2005 could be disqualified from serving as company directors, the government indicated yesterday. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has asked government lawyers to begin compiling the evidence needed to exclude some of the key players behind the Rover affair from corporate life, following the decision of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) yesterday not to pursue a criminal investigation into the affair, even after Lord Mandelson referred the matter to them.

Mandelson is reportedly dismayed by the SFO’s refusal to prosecute and is apparently determined that it should not be the end of the matter. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) said Mandelson had received independent legal advice that some of the people involved in MG Rover should be disqualified from managing a company in the future. This legal advice is based on the soon-to-be-published report by government inspectors into the sale and collapse of the company. The businessmen who ran the consortium, known as the “Phoenix 4″, are thought to have received about £40 million in pay and pensions contributions during their time running MG Rover. They were quick to respond to the SFO’s decision today by pointing the finger at ministers. They say the government failed to support a rescue deal that they claim could have saved Rover from collapse in 2005.

Now I’ve no doubt that these directors probably took an undeserved fair whack out of the company – but if the SFO says there’s no grounds for prosecution, why is Mandelson persisting in hounding these guys ? I smell a rat in the form of a government balls-up that the noble lord is trying very hard to cover up and deflect attention away from, at least until Mandelson’s finished covering for Prime Minister Gordon Brown while the latter is on holiday.

Pictured above are 2 child killers. They are the mother of “Baby P” and her boyfriend, both of whom tortured and killed the 17-month-old child. Their identities were made public yesterday, more than 2 years after the toddler died. Tracey Connelly and Steven Barker abused the child, who can now be known by his full name, Peter Connelly, over a period of 8 months, causing him 60 separate injuries including a broken back and ribs. He suffered all of these injuries despite the fact that he was on the child protection register at Haringey council. He was found dead in his cot in Haringey, north London in August 2007. Now leaving aside the question why these sadistic, sick scumbags haven’t got life sentences, is there any explanation as to why Haringey Social Services department made such a mess of the case ? Can I suggest that it’s because in our politically correct country, social workers are more concerned about parent’s attitude to smoking, obesity and their commitment to telling their kids about gay rights and equal opportunities than they are concerned about whether these fine, upstanding, socially aware parents are beating their kids up.

The BBC is reportedly spending nearly half a million pounds a year on bottled water (pictured above). Responding to a freedom of information request, the public broadcaster said it spends £406,000 annually on large bottles of water for its water coolers. In addition, BBC staff can order bottled water for the organisation’s hospitality events. But the BBC refused to reveal how much it spent on bottled water at the 103,000 events it held last year, claiming that the cost of finding out was more than the Freedom of Information Act required. Bottled water can also be ordered by staff for internal meetings, provided a meeting lasts more than 2 hours. The broadcaster said it was assessing the “health issues” of switching from bottled to mains-fed water. What health issues ? It appears the luvvies at the BBC don’t want to drink tap water like the rest of us mere mortals. It’s high time this stable full of arrogant, preening, self-regarding, prima donnas was mucked out.

Pictured above is an enervated US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the Congo, she was asked what President Obama thought of concerns about massive Chinese aid to that country. But the question got lost in translation, with the President in question identified not as Mr Obama, but her husband, Bill Clinton. ”You want me to tell you what my husband thinks?” she replied, visibly angry. “My husband is not Secretary of State, I am. If you want my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I am not going to be channeling my husband.” On mature reflection though, if she had channelled her husband over the years he might never have got mixed up with Monica Lewinsky.

In the US a grandfather has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman dressed up as Minnie Mouse (pictured above, with Mickey)during a family trip to Disney World. The 60-year-old holidaymaker squeezed the cartoon character’s bottom and grabbed her breasts as she posed with him in front of Magic Kingdom’s Toon Town. Inside Minnie’s traditional polka-dot dress was Brittney Duncan McGoldrick, who told Orange County Court she was horrified by the attack. John William Moyer, from Pennsylvania, reportedly gave a “creepy laugh” as he fondled Minnie’s private parts on June 7, the court heard. Ms McGoldrick fought the tears as she described the attack. “I was doing everything I could to get his hands off my breasts. So, I did everything I could and pushed them down,” she said. A judge convicted Moyer of misdemeanour battery and he now faces a maximum jail sentence of one year in jail and a £750 fine.

Moyer has to write a letter of apology to the victim. He also is under supervised probation for 180 days, must complete 50 hours of community service within four months, and submit to a mental evaluation with treatment, if necessary. During sentencing, Moyer’s son spoke on his behalf. “He’s a good man,” Emory Moyer said. “He’s a nice guy.” Later, Moyer senior spoke briefly to the judge. “I am innocent, I am not guilty of the crimes that I’ve been charged with,” he said. If that’s the case, why did he write a letter of apology ? Is he a man or a mouse ?

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