In light of recent escalating revelations about the inner workings of Downing Street and Whitehall, perceptions of businesses being able to court favour within both are compounding. It seems contacts at the highest levels of government, and the civil service, can be manipulated for competitive advantage.
And to such a degree it now seems almost naïve to expect some government ministers and MPs to fulfil the roles they were elected to ahead of personal interests.
Throughout the pandemic, reporting on government has become a higher priority, hospitality unwantedly moved centre stage due to the consequences endured from Covid-19’s impact.
In every business there are lines of conduct to be followed by all, employees are rightly expected to do the jobs they are paid to carry out. They are not allowed to manipulate their jobs to their own personal financial gain at the expense of the business they work for.
So, why is there now not the same expectation of government ministers and MPs?
The recent revelations that numerous government ministers and MPs, as well as members of the civil service, have colluded to work around rules that supposedly deter them from prioritising the lining their own pockets ahead of their duty to the electorate, is scandalous.
This ongoing scandal is compounded by the fact that the behaviour continues unabated. Of late, revelations concerning government behaviour are daily occurrences.
If an employee working in his or her business’s procurement department accepted shares in a business owned by a family member and then awarded that business a new contract questions would be asked, and would need to be answered.
Most businesses have processes and systems in place to ensure that never happens, as it would clearly create an unworkable conflict of interests.
If such an attempt were made by an employee, and the business they were trying to award the contract to have no experience in the nature of the contract, the only outcome would be the loss of their job, and perhaps legal action.
When Heath Secretary Matt Hancock was recently shown to have acted similarly to our example employee with PPE contracts, and his being gifted shares in his sister’s business, no action was taken whatsoever. It is shamelessly excused as within ‘the rules’ to do so by an anonymous government spokesperson.
It was unearthed recently that civil servants Bill Crothers and David Brierwood both worked for government procurement and Greensill Capital, at the same time, again no action taken.
There are all too numerous examples of government ministers, MPs, and civil servants behaving in a manner that would never be countenanced outside of Westminster and Whitehall. In every instance those that aim questions at the perpetrators are told that the actions taken are within ‘the rules’.
Lobbying has lost its definition and now includes whispering in the ears of government, and at the highest levels, to gain favourable treatment ignoring rules designed precisely to avoid the outcomes sought.
To add insult to injury, the blurring of lines that enables such digressions seem to be within the control of those that seek to manipulate them.
It is high time that things are cleaned up and the ‘current’ occupants of Downing Street and Whitehall got back to focusing on doing their jobs. Providing support for hospitality, and other industries that so desperately need it.
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Hospitality & Catering News: Downing Street and Whitehall heading in the wrong direction for hospitality. – 23 April 2021 – Downing Street and Whitehall heading in the wrong direction for hospitality.
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