The Politics of Old Corruption. Sunak needs not a helicopter but a bike.
The current Government can be characterised in a number of ways but one is that of ‘Old Corruption’. The term was used by William Cobbett and others to describe Parliaments and politics before the 1832 Reform Act. Here people held positions because of who they knew not because they were competent. Here also were numerous political sinecures. People benefiting from a political office in which they did little or no work.
Baroness Mone who has admitted that she will benefit from a Government contract to provide PPE during the pandemic. Her position in the House of Lords and the contract was clearly based on who she knew.
When it comes to sinecures Sunak is surely a key exponent. He is the richest MP and claims to work as Prime Minister. In reality he seems to enjoy regular helicopter rides when a train or car journey would be just as good and much cheaper.
In fact Sunak’s helicopter rides cost the public millions. When the Civil Service suggested that the money could be better spent elsewhere (Mirror/Times reports) and cancelled the helicopter contract, Sunak ordered it to be reinstated. The politics not of democracy but Old Corruption
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