A Case of Deja Vue
BBC news reported on the following UK scandal:
A top civil servant joined financial firm Greensill Capital as an adviser while still working for the government, a lobbying watchdog has revealed. Bill Crothers's part-time position had been "agreed" to by the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments added.(1)
Of course that is very much like the Charlie Parker Affair - known and given the nod by the Chief Minister - until it became public knowledge. And likewise, the Daily Mail asked of Mr Crother how he found the time for the extra job when he was supposed to be busy working for the government in a very demanding post.
City AM had this report:
And finally, Sir Stephen Dalton, Lt-Governor of Jersey, clearly channelling the wit of the late Duke of Edinburgh in his tribute on Channel Television:
Former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington said that he was “absolutely amazed” that a top civil servant was permitted to work as a part-time adviser at Greensill Capital while still in Whitehall. Asked about the Bill Crothers case, Sir David told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme today: “Well actually, when I heard it, I thought it was absolutely baffling. I’ve never come across anything like it in my over 40 years in Whitehall.” “I’m absolutely amazed that Bill Crothers should be allowed to work for Greensill while he was still in the civil service,” he added.Over here, we had a backhand attempt led by the Chief for SEB to retrospectively approve the post, while one of those soulless minions of orthodoxy, a "Government spokesperson", came up with a bland, unsatisfying declaration:
A Government spokesperson said there were “no contractual restrictions on the Chief Executive accepting such a role."
Meanwhile, over there, Government departments have been ordered to find out by the end of the week whether senior officials have rule-breaking second jobs. The BBC reports that:
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has asked colleagues to declare paid roles or outside interests that "might conflict" with Civil Service rules. He said the need to give civil servants the chance to gain experience life outside Whitehall has been "recognised for many decades by successive governments". "But this must only be done in a way which can maintain the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service," he wrote.
He added: "In particular, there needs to be transparency and full and proper management of any outside interests."
Transparency was singularly lacking over in Jersey!
Political Scandals and Skeletons in the Cupboard
The latest page filler in the JEP regarding Deputy Kevin Pamplin (36 at the time) and a 16 year old girl (at the time, now around 20 years old) does not reflect well on the Deputy. I noticed that his manifesto stated that he was a "father of two" in 2018, but not that he was still married.
This raises the question of how much a private life should be public for a politician, and what effect, if any, it has on their political career. The woman in question asks for his resignation, and yet while unseemly, and she was not under age at the time, as is clear from the printed exchanges.
Legally it is not chargeable or a resigning offense under Jersey election law, but next year obviously the public can decide for themselves.How much is flirting, and how much is rather more predatory is something voters will have to decide for themselves.
I remember two Deputies who had an affair, and one resigned as President of Education - before the affair become public knowledge, as he probably felt this would not set a good example, especially where sex education was concerned.
Times are also changing, and even over four years, it hass become clear that more people are trying to carefully navigate the line between flirting and harassment, or sexual predation. The #MeToo movement has forced society to become more aware and sensitive to sexual ethics in our everyday interactions.
This is a recent shift, but it has correctly placed a greater emphasis on understanding the differences between things like consent and coercion.
Our Great British Empire
"The Duke paid keen attention to Jersey and the Crown Dependencies, and of course to the rest of our Great British Empire"
I like to think that the Duke would have been quietly amused!
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