Richard Sharp, the Tories & the politics of Old Corruption
Richard Sharp, the Chair of the BBC, has, at length resigned. It comes after a report found that he had been less than entirely straightforward about his role in facilitating an £800K loan for Boris Johnson when he was PM.
Sharp was previously Sunak’s boss at Goldman Sachs and has donated £400,000 to the Tories.
One might think that the circumstances of his resignation would mean that he would not be looked at further for such roles. However in response to his resignation Tory Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has written a letter that concludes with precisely the opposite sentiment.
It is the politics of Old Corruption writ large. Before the 1832 Reform Act began the lengthy process of transforming Britain into something like a Parliamentary Democracy, Government positions and titles were handed out not on the basis of merit or ability to do the job but as patronage. Sinecures where friends of those in power were preferred and promoted while others did the actual work abounded.
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