Corruption in official life (slang)
Are politicians expected to be honest, trustworthy and put the needs of the country before their own? The clue is in the term, public servant.
In November 2020, the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that the UK government had awarded £10.5 billion of pandemic related contracts without a competitive tendering process and the friends of the Tory party were 10 times more likely to win them. The companies involved were jewelers, pest controllers and candy companies. Obviously vital to dealing with a pandemic. Smaller firms with experience of protective personal equipment but without political influence had their requests to help ignored.
Matt Hancock’s former landlord of his local pub won a contract to supply vials for covid-19 tests. He had not produced vials before.
Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, overturned a decision by Tower Hamlets council and the government’s planning inspectorate to reject a £1 billion planning development. This enabled the Tory donor, Richard Desmond, to avoid a £45 million levy, which would have been payable to London’s poorest borough.
Things were brought to a head when David Cameron attempted to solicit financial help for Greensill Capital, for which he was an advisor . Greensill Capital was struggling financially during the covid pandemic and David…
