Ian Hislop and Private Eye journalist start reading out MPs' gifts in select committee

[@PoliticsJOE]

Watch our recent interview with Ian Hislop: kzbin.info/www/bejne/harPhqSrq6t4sJI

[@lordveteran9126]

I have a better suggestion... better vet, scrutinise and maintain the caliber of person allowed to be an MP in the first place....

[@neelubird]

@@lordveteran9126 No point in having such rules when the rules are blatantly broken by the MPs and there aren't any consequences for it other than increased gagging of the BBC and the rule breakers winning the next election because they got rid of any real opposition at the last election.

[@BrianRonald]

@@lordveteran9126 That's *our* job as voters, unfortunately.

[@lordveteran9126]

@@BrianRonald you honestly beleave our votes count? How many promices have been kept? Are we better off now than 5yrs ago...10? No... is it going to get better? No..the damage has been done... will they continue their adjenda...yes..

[@Taboomix]

@@lordveteran9126 agenda lmao

[@iainb1577]

Ian Hislop is one of the hardest working guardians of decency there is. I wish there could be a few more of him, calling out these crooks.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep, and notice it's not getting any headlines because Labour politicians are also guilty! 🤔

[@iainb1577]

@@fiddlecastro1453 He calls them out too. Wake up.

[@th3d3wd3r]

Not to mention he's absolutely hilarious while he does it too

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@iainb1577 He was absolutely silent about the Labour scandal of sweeping Rotherham abuse victims under the carpet... SILENT indeed. Idk what it is with Leftwing Labour supporting media outlets.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@Thomas Clifford That's really great, but I would much prefer evidence and quote based sources next time instead of blanket opinionated statements. So I'll give you the botd, has private EYE mentioned Keith Starmer breaking lockdown rules (which he admitted to in a BBC interview), next question, did they talk about the Labour grooming gang scandal, which span decades (you'd assume a media outlet that ''doesn't go light on labor''. Let me know when you have the answers.

[@jinnbuster4753]

I was a civil servant for 40 years. We spent most of our time visiting businesses. We were allowed to accept a cup of tea and a biscuit. Anything else had to be reported before we could keep it. I was given a souvenir pen once. I had to report it and ask if I could keep it. MPs should be treated the same way.

[@mydogeatspuke]

In the NHS, you're not allowed to accept gifts of any kind. A cup of tea in a client's home if you're doing a visit is fine, but anything except a card when terminating care ("thank you for all your help" for example) must be flatly refused. You're not even allowed to let clients pay for coffee if you go out for one with them, during social or community care. You must pay and keep the receipt and claim it back from expenses. I'm sure there are staff who accept gifts, but they're not supposed to. Not even if the client is their absolute favourite in the whole world and practically family, which would of course pose its own issues and is also frowned upon. It blows my mind that an MP can take massive amounts of money from businesses that definitely don't have an agenda, or give it to whomever they so choose for whatever reason, including renovating their second homes at 100 grand a pop, and nobody can stop them. My personal favourite is the lengthy list of personal taxis for briefcases. Just briefcases, no people minding them. Absurd.

[@sails3538]

How it works... A government employee buys regularly from a company.... A competitor says... Oh you have a child who will be going to college.... He won a scholarship..... For 2 years of collage. No law against winning a scholarship.

[@Bloodlyshiva]

@@mydogeatspuke ...I'd hate to think the cakes I've bought and brought to wards I've been on after care have been thrown out.

[@waterboy8999]

I want to here more about this pen......

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@Bloodlyshiva oh well.

[@markcowley1369]

Ian Hislop is a very sharp man. So coherent and insightful. Nothing gets past him.

[@michealmccann]

There's no such thing as a free gift, call it what it really is, it's a bribe and any polititians excepting any gift should be fired immediately.

[@barryscott1756]

Unless it's a gift that benefits the general public 🤣🤣 like that would ever happen 😂😂

[@ChrispyNut]

@@barryscott1756 Excuse me, but they shit on us from on high. That's a very nutrient rich gift they deliver.

[@sueyourself5413]

@@ChrispyNut Human shit is terrible fertilizer.

[@ChrispyNut]

@@sueyourself5413 It's better than the piss and spit they bestow on us.

[@michealmccann]

@@barryscott1756 100k in a bent polititians bank account is in no way shape or form going to benefit us, these people are criminals, and we should stop refering to them as the government, they are a crime syndicate that needs taking down. No matter what method we use, this shit cannot continue, this is our fucking country, not their's.

[@Harryhas26]

Proper journalism. Which the current lot in charge are absolutely terrified of.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep, and notice it's not getting any headlines because Labour politicians are also guilty! 🤔

[@freddycareless1723]

@@fiddlecastro1453 you vote for Boris again mate

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@freddycareless1723 The only reason the tories are in power is because of Labour mate

[@freddycareless1723]

@@fiddlecastro1453 so you'd vote for them again?

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@freddycareless1723 Nah I stopped voting for leftwing parties after Blair. Why?

[@Siamesebutter]

Ian is absolutley right! Having worked in the public sector for 20+ years we were never allowed to accept gifts, even a box of biscuts at Christmas from a contractor that could have been shared wit the team! It was always safer to just say no!. However it seems the higher up the chain you go, the bigger the gifts and the excuses as to why they were accepted.

[@MrZeldion]

I literally just 2 weeks ago messaged my local police on facebook asking if they are able to accept gifts. As a bus driver I see them all over the place particularly at night on Fridays and Saturdays.. They always get abuse no matter who they are individually because of their uniform. They replied with "sorry, unfortunately we are unable to accept gifts" I thought.. What a shit world we live in. Like I don't want any favours, don't even need to take my info. I just wanted to show appreciation but you can't. However... If your a major, MP etc it's absolutely fine to accept a full house refreshment or perhaps a family cruise or some very very expensive exotic goods etc. Funny that isn't it.

[@Vii7aL]

@@MrZeldiontoo much corruption within the police so I think it’s fair they said no

[@Diggerbrown]

This is fantastic . Ian running rings around the lying corrupt snakes 🐍

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep, and notice it's not getting any headlines because Labour politicians are also guilty! 🤔

[@pseudonayme7717]

@@fiddlecastro1453 So you're saying our press(which is 95% right-wing) Doesn't want to report on this scandal because Labour are doing it too? Any evidence of that, or should we just believe your quite far-fetched complete reversal of the facts? They are not reporting it because they are totally biased to the right-wing and quite often, they are the ones giving politicians the gifts in question. You must really have zero powers of deduction to come on here and basically make the argument "No you!" which is the argument of a 5 year old.

[@Nyle95]

@@fiddlecastro1453 As someone has already said. The vast majority of the media is right wing.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@Nyle95 which is laugable. BBC, ITV, C4, Sky News UK, Guardian, The Independent, The New European, need I go on... leftwing media constantly defending Labour misconduct.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

​@@pseudonayme7717 '' 95% right wing'' hahahahah which is laughable. BBC, ITV, C4, Sky News UK, Guardian, The Independent, The New European, need I go on... You leftwing numpties are laughable. Same leftwing media that justified Labours illegal war, same media that swept grooming gangs under the carpet. Please, I know you're going to desperately defend Labour, but I suggest you prioritise logic, because you desperately need some.

[@boreilly82]

Ian Hislop is the epitome of the good journalism can be; telling truth to power

[@russouk]

Agreed I didnt know cameron had awarded a contract to firm his sister runs...turns out he got shares...this goes on a lot and hes made millions from being an mp who gets friends with shares and gives contracts to them...this shouldnt be allowed for mps to have shares in ANY company who work for govt in any shape or form...disgusting...we do it and get done for insider trading ?

[@alexmason8408]

Second only to James O'Brien but that might be my personal bias talking😅

[@proxis9980]

@@alexmason8408 james ist not a journalist, not realy ...doesnt mean he isnt great thou :)

[@alexmason8408]

@@proxis9980 I think he might disagree with you but I take your point.

[@Plasticjesus504]

"It is not hugely complicated. It is pretty much who you think it will be and they are doing what you think they are doing.." Can this man come to the USA. What a legend.

[@kiriakoz]

no, the USA is too far gone.

[@FFKonoko]

You need to scale up. For America you need hundreds of him, so you'll need to start making your own.

[@MercenaryPen]

@@FFKonoko I think even hundreds of him may understate the need- try tens of thousands

[@Uhn_Tis_Uhn_Tis_Uhn_Tis_Baby]

He would tragically commit suicide if they tried this in the US

[@bzuidgeest]

You sound like trump asking why the fins don't come to America. I'll tell you, because it's a crap county. No healthcare, no consumer protection or worker protection to speak of. Gun violence, severely lacking in social support structures. Minimum wage hasn't been updated in ages. All the things you have in EU countries don't exist in the US. And this list isn't even exhaustive. This man won't go to America, and neither will most other sane man

[@brucefraser4778]

Ian hislop, inconveniently truthful, thats why MP's dont like him, if we had a Parliament full of Ian Hislop's what a wonderful country we would have

[@johnnyroadcrew3841]

Not too sure Mr Hislop would be happy with that??

[@SalemikTUBE]

I work in an industry where we work in the freezing cold, regularly lose fingers and toes or much worse. If we get a raise at all its less than half the rate of inflation. I earn less now than I did 35 years ago. Where is my free shit? The gravy train of free "gifts" and sly jobs on the side is corruption and they know it. I had to go to college, train for decades and have to re qualify every year and yet my weeks pay is less than the cost of a single roll of Boris' wallpaper. They just don't get it.

[@powerboon2k]

You regularly lose fingers and toes? Is there any health and safety at all where you work?

[@peanut25john]

I honestly think they do get it “ they just don’t give a shit “ and sorry I don’t have an answer either.

[@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow]

I used to get up in the morning at night at half-past-ten at night, half an hour before I went to bed, Eat a lump of freezing cold poison, work 28 hours a day at mill, and pay da mill owner to let us work there. And when I went home our dad used to murder us in cold blood, each night, and dance about on our graves, singing hallelujah. Yah, you try an tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you...

[@mrtoad1408]

Exactly. Of course they get it, they see its wrong otherwise they wouldn't try and justify it with excuses and lies. I think it's more a case of "I've climbed the greasy ladder and now im going to get mine."

[@samblack5313]

@@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow 😂😂😂😂

[@hschwartz9277]

"There's lots of people who are hard working" love it

[@michaeljw3602]

Love hislop. Brilliant journalist and more intelligent and savvy than politicians think he is ..

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep. Wish we could replace the Labour party with him, maybe we'd get some ACTUAL opposition.

[@dzonbrodi514]

Yeah he is very sharp.

[@robertely686]

Yes, that way he smeared Corbyn supporters as anti-Semitic was 'brilliant'. His blindness over Jimmy Saville was exceptional. Not to mention calling for the bombing of Assad and Syria based on dodgy evidence. What a guy!

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@robertely686 Don't use facts with these lot mate. They think that because he says '' but the toriesssssss'' for a living on HIGNFY that he's somehow the new George Orwell.

[@alfredthegreat9543]

Ian Hislop is an example of why a free press is so important and why politicians in general, especially in the US, wage a campaign of denigrating the media.

[@alfredthegreat9543]

@@mychannel5019 There's alot about Assange that makes him difficult to defend. Definitely a dodgy character hence not many do stand up for him.

[@alfredthegreat9543]

@@mychannel5019 You are trying to paint Assange as some type of freedom fighter when he isn't. He selectively released information and didn't release information if it didn't suit him. The very fact people very much in favour of championing freedom of the press and information, like Hislop, don't defend him says a lot.

[@johntowers1213]

@@alfredthegreat9543 Wikileaks have never had to retract anything they have released..your issue seems more that uncomfortable truths were told about people you considered of your tribe...but not against the tribe you oppose... was any of it not true....?

[@alfredthegreat9543]

@@johntowers1213 That's the point though. How can you trust information supplied when other information is withheld? That's intellectually corrupt and manipulation of people. I don't support a "tribe"- I'm just against those who seek to destroy democracy and freedom, these include communism, fascism, Putin, Trump, Winning the Pooh (if you know you know), religions, disinformation, corruption, online propaganda sites advocating stupidity, anti-science advocates, conspiracy theorists, liars, frauds, cancel culture etc

[@Ashitaka255]

The US media has been dead for so long you could make oil out of them. As a Brit I knew about Fox news, they're so comically evil it's hard to think of them as anything but the propaganda arm of the republican party. Then during the two Sanders campaigns I learned that CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, and every other "mainstream" media was just as corrupt and evil. They just don't go for stupid shit like abortion and gun laws. They quietly undermine efforts to fix workers rights, healthcare, prison reform, military indistrial complex etc etc. They became increasingly unhinged as a Sanders win seemed more and likely, devolving into outright lies and smears akin to Fox News. I think Boris Johnson and David Cameron started to introduce many of the same tactics here.

[@caeserromero3013]

It reminds me of that line from Brewsters millions about the election: "Why would somebody spend $100m to secure a $70,000 a year job unless they planned to steal it back with interest?"

[@KuyAurelian]

Probably because they're not the one paying the 100 million for it. :D It's the party's money, most of the time.

[@d3nza482]

@@KuyAurelian Close, but not quite. Party doesn't make products or provide services nor does it own property. It's the "Interests'" money. I.e. People, companies and associations with specific interests of their own are putting up the money so their "interests" become THE CHOICE. And while transparency does help with dishonesty - it only works in case of politicians who care about their image. E.g. Transparency alone does nothing for the case of "Racists R' Us" transparently funding a racist politician in order to make racism great again. Or, Mr. Money Man openly funding politicians who firmly believe that being rich makes you better and entitled to more stuff. It might worry you if you're not rich or if you're someone who does not believe that being rich makes you better and entitled to more stuff, but if you're a voter who DOES fit into either of those two categories, then makes money perfectly legitimate political activism. Which is what happened in the USA with Citizens United v. FEC - i.e. spending money on a campaign being equated with free speech, for corporations.

[@fudgefudge8913]

@@KuyAurelian Regardless.. you don't think they plan on getting that money back with interest? It's corruption through and through.

[@papabaikal5433]

Exactly.

[@RH-nk7eo]

The other question and something a bit more relevant to UK politics where we don't have huge election campaigns, is why would a person give up their 7 figure salary private job to become an MP on a mere £70k?

[@ohnezuckerohnefett]

I want 'Ian Hislop critiques MPs' as a weekly show.

[@The482075]

Well, have I got news for you? That show exists. It is called "Have I Got News For You?" Couldn't resist the lame pun.

[@ohnezuckerohnefett]

@@The482075 must try harder

[@andymcleary]

@@The482075 not lame. I actually laughed.

[@richardholmes1920]

He actually edits a magazine/newspaper. It comes out monthly and contains all the info your after. It's called private eye...

[@kerplunk46]

@@richardholmes1920 biweekly!

[@momurda6]

This is ever so confusing. Let me get this straight... Gov makes rules, tells people to stick to rules, gov forgets the rules they're enforcing, then they start breaking the rules they forgot, then denied they broke any rules cause they forgot what they were, then they remembered the rules, but adamant they didn't break it, but still enforcing the rule which they broke....Right.

[@chris56269]

Got it in one, see it's not that hard is it? 🤣

[@edmondinyang3305]

@k84 sounds about right. in any case we'll just have to wait for the sue gray report which will now come after the met office investigation. 🤔🤔🤔

[@oyl80]

You forgot, they then tried to change the rules they themselves wrote and broke, but got caught and are now in charge of writing a report set up to find out whether they broke the rules they wrote. I think that's it now.

[@ChewyBacAaaah]

Shelley figured it out 200 years ago. Wrote 'The Masque of Anarchy' in response to the bloody suppression of non-violent protesting workers. Typically, the powers, far from relenting, doubled-down. Poem not published in Shelley's lifetime (he was an advocate of Irish home rule). The objective of gov't is to confound the electorate for the benefit of speculators, warmongers, grifters and people with big ideas. Benefits from 🇬🇧 imperial might may trickle down. Being in power, the temptation to serve special interests is just too great. We are deemed too childish to comprehend the great burden reluctantly taken up by those who deign to 'govern'.

[@gerardtoner9191]

As a rule yes , well there the rules ,by any rule of the imagination because we voted for them to rule and make the rule of law ,there the rules I think that's what you're saying k84 and in my opinion I rule yours is the best comment on rules so in my house you rule

[@hihosilverlining]

I’ve read Private Eye since the 1980’s….they’ve depressed, appalled, amused, horrified….but most of all they’ve educated me. They’ve opened my eyes…read it and see what you’re not reading anywhere else. And just sometimes be very afraid…the dreadful people you think are out there really are there. And they’re getting away with it most of the time…

[@craighicksartwork]

Ian Hislop is an absolute legend.

[@dronespace]

🙌

[@mojorisen7812]

BBC shill

[@Kyle_Hooper]

I’d watch this all day long!

[@chaipup7045]

We need more oversight on MP's interests. They should not be accepting any gifts from sources with vested interests.

[@andydudley1775]

if this is whats going on then we need to stop calling them gifts they are bribes

[@malcolmwilkinson4449]

They shouldn’t be accepting ANY gifts !!!! End of problem. No second jobs and no being able to accept directorships in any company for at least 5 years after leaving parliament….End of that problem as well!

[@dizzlechazzle154]

100% right

[@si0054]

Totally, when I worked in sales we gave gifts because in the end we hoped to win some favour. Companies don’t give things away for nothing, influencers it’s for feee advertising. So what do they get in return from MP??

[@aleksrako2302]

HAHAH dude its been happening since the inception of fake democracy all around the west. You think cov would of happened if your politicians arnt evil and in the pockets of the even more evil?

[@YourHostNathanBurke]

You're using a fact as an excuse and I'm saying its not terribly convincing. Love this phrase.

[@sjake8308]

Hislop cutting straight through the bull****, as per usual.

[@SamuelBlack84]

You either do something, or you don't Anything else is making excuses

[@gregoryboatswain1605]

​@@SamuelBlack84Agreed. Some excuses are fair. Most of them aren't.

[@newdawn5212]

Croupiers are not allowed to accept gifts for glaringly obvious reasons, why then, pray tell, are MP's?

[@jacksonbow2766]

Many jobs where the employees are not allowed to accept gifts from anyone outside of the company. MPs positions must always automatically rule them out of receiving any gifts, donations or anything like that. The salaries they receive and the expenses they have covered is more than most of the population. They can move onto their CEO jobs in the private sector sooner than planned if they are 'hard up'.

[@STONEWALL148]

I am an ex-civil servant and we were not allowed to even accept a cup of tea when we visited the public in their own homes and even when it was forced upon us we had a book that we had to list what we received and if it was food, that usually got shared between us. Money or goods were never accepted. One law for one a different law for those further up the greasy pole.

[@jimmywenger8979]

sounds like you've never been to a casino, croupiers are tipped regularly. There is a pit boss watching them all like hawks to ensure they are not cheating the house for your gain.

[@Clembo]

Because they are the House (of Commons).

[@thorncraft3235]

The answer of course is obvious, they are & have been knowingly accepting these bribes & because no one person or body is over them they have grown accustomed to it. The system is corrupt & needs a massive overhaul.

[@smallspacearcade8158]

Ian Hislop is an absolute legend. Integrity, Intelligence and honesty. Keep on the good fight Ian.

[@johnmartinez7440]

The only trouble with reading Private Eye regularly is that you start to realise just how absolutely corrupt so many high-ranking officials and politicians are. This morning, for example, I was reading about a Tory MP who'd received enormous amounts of money, privately, from the wife of one of Putin's friends. The Conservatives themselves had received millions in this way, and HSBC had flagged it as money-laundering and it was reported...then absolutely nothing was done! And that's just one tiny report in a 50+ page bi-monthly magazine. Incredible.

[@theun4giv3n]

I work in finance and we aren't allowed to accept gifts over £250 and if we get gifts under that we still have to get approval. No MP or any member of government should be allowed to receive ANY gifts like this. It's pure corruption.

[@ironingbored]

This is ridiculous. Large corporations, in particular Sales teams within them, are trained yearly on anti-corruption and business ethics, including the policies on giving and receiving of gifts. High value gifts or ones with a monetary value over £25 for example are usually disallowed or require approval. This is very common practice in big business, but somehow, MPs don't have these sorts of rules?! WTF.

[@exquisitelemonade3039]

That's training mate. "Training", if you get me? Enough training to bs themselves that they "believe" in living by these rules etc, training themselves to learn how to talk around such things.

[@reheyesd8666]

If you make the rules and own the necessary staff to enforce those rules, who can stop you?

[@RightWing1]

Kickbacks and anti-bribery are a huge part of policy for most companies yet MP's are revelling in the luxury of many of the benefits of it

[@user-cl5kj7oq6y]

If corporations weren’t corrupt, they wouldn’t exist.

[@souralba2727]

@@user-cl5kj7oq6y yep, I do work at a large company doing government work. We have an anti bribery policy in force but there is dodgy stuff going on all the time, nothing is done about it.

[@DaveyNaples]

As a Council worker, I am not allowed to accept so much as a box of chocolates - how is it possible that MPs can accept all this, it's absolutely disgusting and corrupt, call it what it is !

[@stevedurrant6112]

They make the rules up to suit themselves. So they’ve broken no law because they change the laws to suit. They’ll say there is no corruption but it’s obvious.

[@glennnj6463]

Because they write the rules for themselves normally 😂

[@Michael-hr6lq]

Yeah except that's bs, I worked for my local MP and people came in with chocolates all the time for councilors, and the MP and for case workers.

[@DaveyNaples]

@Michael-hr6lq err... you're talking about MP's case workers .. not the people who do the actual council work - they are governed by different rules

[@doccarter5283]

"Yes but your using the fact as an excuse". Beautiful. No beating round the bush.

[@bob23301]

Costa and Jenkins proving 100% everything Hislop and his team were bringing to their attention as true.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

and oddly silent about Starmer breaking lockdown rules which he admitted to in a BBC interview... oh yeah that's the Labour party nvm, Hislops not as interested in that.

[@Ryan-ce1oc]

@@fiddlecastro1453 What Starmer did is not even close on the scale of rule breaking. It's like saying speeding 5 mph over the speed limit is the same as speeding 50mph over the speed limit. It's not the same at all.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@Ryan-ce1oc Um, most certainly is. He was in favour of inhumane lockdown rules which he, himself broke while the rest of us were separated from our loved ones. You don't get to pick & choose who to scrutinise, unless ofcourse you're admitting to being dishonest...

[@danishih]

@@fiddlecastro1453 this isn't a committee about lockdown breaches, that's why

[@bob23301]

@@fiddlecastro1453 Are labour in power, did labour stand up at PM question time and state there were not parties, he was not at any parties, he did not know there were parties, he did not know it was his birthday party?.....the tories are in power and set laws and rules and were supposed to lead by example, so will the 17000 fined get hearings and similar reports? So stop deflecting the contempt this government has for this country and for everyone who could not be with their loved ones at the end, while Johnson and his clowns parties the nights away.

[@robertwaldram5903]

My partner is a carer, Christmas day she was working looking after elderly people in need so missed most of the day with our 10 year old son, Boxing day she had to call an ambulance for an gentleman who had fallen over and broke his hip the night before and had spent the night on the living room floor. People try and give her gifts all the time if she accepted she would be fired, she gets paid just above minimum wage and has to log visits so they don't have to pay her when travelling between patients. And then you see what most our politicians are up to, after they've denied doing it...

[@spongmongler6760]

couldn't the patients give YOU a gift? she didn't accept them, they had nothing to do with her. *wink*

[@crayzmarc]

Good point! There should be some way to accept those gifts but old or dying think different and sometimes without thinking. If anything carers should get more.

[@katyalupochev9589]

It’s shocking they don’t even get paid for time spent between visits. That’s hours of your partner’s day/life, that she is dedicating to work and clearly isn’t able to use for any other purpose… but she won’t get paid for it. Please tell me she at LEAST gets a petrol/public transit allowance?

[@katyalupochev9589]

@@sdwgaming3078 I _kind of_ understand that. Even though most of the people she cares for are probably 100% mentally capable and really want to give her a gift … there’s a tiny chance that they’re confused/disoriented and didn’t truly mean to give away something, or there’s a chance that unscrupulous carers could pressure/guilt/manipulate vulnerable people into giving away money or property. It’s probably easier to blanket ban taking any kind of gift or tip from clients so there’s zero chance of any funny business. It’s sad though, because I bet there’s lots of elderly people with carers who _want_ to be able to give something back, and care for the people who care for them.

[@sdwgaming3078]

@@katyalupochev9589 yeah its sad that they cant but they can but i get your point! The perks of working for the Goverment!

[@CMDR_Verm]

Thank god for people like Ian Hislop who have the integrity, honesty, intelligence and courage to speak up. He must despair of the rest of us who sit idly and mutely by letting this sleaze continue, year in, year out. It's people like him who should be running this country.

[@TheCaptScarlett]

Thanks to the Anti-bribery Act 2010 much of British industry has to keep a detailed record of hospitality received and given. You'd think those that set that law would be joining in the fun.

[@SteveDorrans]

You're forgetting that MPs are dedicated public servants who are never influenced by bri....I mean gifts, only by what is the interests of their hard working constituents. Adhering to the common "law of reciprocity" by doing something in return for a bri....I mean gift, would simply never occur to them, unlike us greedy plebs with our fingers continually stuck in the till.

[@davespanksalot8413]

"But the members of parliament register of interests are on display." “On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.” “That’s the display department.” “With a flashlight.” “Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.” “So had the stairs.” “But look, you found the register, didn’t you?” “Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard." RIP Douglas Adams.

[@rosiefay7283]

Let's give his memory more respect, by using his word "torch" rather than substituting the Americanism "flashlight".

[@davespanksalot8413]

@@rosiefay7283 Ha ha, good spotting. I just copied and pasted from a quote site and it must have been from the movie. I just checked the original radio play and it was indeed a torch. Ps. It has been many moons since I read all five books of the trilogy...

[@boogieknee3781]

@@davespanksalot8413 Psst.....errata.....six books in the trilogy....one was "ghost written"after he died to give the series its actual end😸 I now expect 42 people to disagree with the above comment,rather than seek out the actual book....... ....🤖.....👈marvin knows BOTH the answer AND the question* *(read the books again he tells you THIS repeatedly)

[@davespanksalot8413]

@@boogieknee3781 That does make a lot of sense since he ended up hanging about parking cars at the restaurant at the end of the universe so plenty of time to think!! And you've got me all excited about this sixth book 😮 I will have to put The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul on the back burner while I investigate... Thank you for all the info nuggets 😊

[@boogieknee3781]

@@davespanksalot8413 Recommended related wiki search......Dirk Gently(tv series).. ..1uk(short and from the book).... 2.usa(long and brilliant scripting) after search is completed...find them on youtube...whoever uploaded themlast time did a pretty good job.

[@markvalentine3030]

You've got to admire Hislop's laser-guided, water-tight interrogations.

[@petegowland6201]

Mr.Hislop and Private Eye are absolute heroes. Please keep up this essential work and not letting any of them off.

[@agt155]

MMR vaccine?

[@petegowland6201]

@@agt155 I wasn't aware of that story, thanks. That's one hell of a black mark in Hislop's book.

[@nekite1]

Just what I like...Ian Hislop forensically tearing these MPs a new one!

[@SusieWest5]

Well done Ian and team. Much more of this please.

[@benday1218]

If an NHS employee receives a gift of chocolates or flowers they are required to declare it in minute detail, and yet here we are again with excuses and half truths for the people with power.

[@rogueriderhood1862]

'People with power', sums it up exactly, any gift is made on a quid pro quo basis on what the MP is able to provide in return.

[@XzMattyxZ]

Same even in software engineering that I work in, due to the nature of our work with big data contracts to and from insurance companies,data suppliers (including governments) any gifts we offer or receive have to be noted

[@fiddlecastro1453]

it's alright, the Labour party have voted in favour of sacking NHS staff so that shouldn't be a problem for much longer.

[@ohpurpled]

From what I've seen it's fairly strict at the local government level, yet somehow MPs get to file for large amounts of "office supplies" apparently without comment.

[@lindamitchell6435]

Totally agree with your comment. When I worked as a community nurse, we used to attend study days organised by drug companies which our bosses were perfectly happy about. Then, almost overnight, we weren’t allowed to accept even a sandwich when the reps came to demonstrate their products at the surgery. We weren’t even allowed to accept pens with a logo. Nothing at all. This was nearly sixteen years ago……..

[@MikeWalls7829]

Interesting, I work in fraud prevention and I can tell you that politically exposed people and the gifts they give each other are a huge red flag concern for us, corruption is rife in politics. I think all politicians should have all of their financial dealings made public, it's the only way to mitigate the risk.

[@byrnemeister2008]

I don’t understand why they are even allowed to have second jobs or why they are allowed to accept gifts. Every company I have worked for over the last 30 years has not allowed me to accept gifts, entertainment, business trips. No second jobs. No directorships. No working with suppliers who have relatives working in them. Parliament is just so out of date. It’s becoming a banana republic at the same time as banana republics are sorting out their issues.

[@rabmcnair4488]

While I agree with you regarding more transparency, I would go even further and implement accountability. Therefore, any MP who breaks the rules or abuses ppublic money is sacked at the very least and put in prison if their offence merits it. I also think that all lobbying should be banned and politicians should not be allowed to take jobs from companies they have close dealings with, once they leave office and certainly not while in office.

[@SkepticalTeacher]

It also makes them sitting ducks for blackmail.

[@ralphraffles1394]

@@SkepticalTeacher well Wimbledon finals tickets , a good 50% must be corporate gifts.

[@ScandinavianHeretic]

With all due respect they can't be *that* huge red flags, or they are at the very least half-masted concerns - otherwise the results of those things would have had a much more profound impact on the people who do receive gifts. I am not saying it is easy, not at all, I believe its very difficult, however its Your job.

[@simonbaxter8001]

These are the same reasons why the last company I worked at didn't allow gifts from suppliers or customers, i.e. a bottle of this or that at Christmas, a hospitality ticket to a footie private box, etc. It was seen as a sweetener for you to give them more time or special treatment ... and as such was forbidden. MP's should abide by these rules too, as every 'gift' is 'usually' for something in return, no matter how big or small that is. If you want to reward a hard worker, as one of these MP's quoted ... PAY THEM BETTER in the first place!

[@MedievalFolkDance]

When I started my latest job, we had to sit through an induction where it was spelled out to us that accepting any gifts or services from a client in exchange for special exceptions will always be counted as fraud, we would be fired and immediately prosecuted. MP's not only do this all the time, they are now making excuses for why they should be allowed to carry on being corrupt freeloaders.

[@AutoAbsolute]

Same, I even have to pay for my own food when out to dinner with suppliers. It's awkward but a necessary evil to ensure I'm impartial.

[@Dracurosu]

As professional nurses we have always been told in our training that we cannot and should not accept gifts or presents from patients, it is a proffessional rule set by NMC as we are not allowed to advertise any products either., nor can we give patients anything from our pockets. Proffessional boundaries !. it seems that these "Politicians" are not part of any regulatory body and they are not professionals. But we knew that anyway....If someone like Boris J reached the PM role, that sais it all!!!

[@Ashitaka255]

They make the rules, they understand the rules and why they're needed. Then they see the shiny Rolls Royce, the Rolex, caviar etc. and suddenly the rules become very confusing. Excuses start popping up, "why shouldn't I enjoy a few perks, I work so hard", "everyone else is doing it" etc etc. Some obviously have no need for just flimsy justification. Usually the scandals are small enough to brush them under the carpet, and change the rules so that next time there is no breach to discuss. Ocassionally you get a blatant one like this where they are forced to drop all pretenses.

[@MizGizma]

I just like the fact that they are discussing and acknowledging the fact that these companies are giving them gifts with a motive behind it and desire to record the gifts in an orderly fashion WITHOUT disguising who is giving the gift.

[@GSD-hd1yh]

The motive is obvious, influence in committees deciding on government contracts, favourable business conditions, inside information to assist in submitting a winning bid and so on. It's strange that when ordinary people try to obtain this type of advantage it's called corruption or fraud.

[@kg-4062]

This is hilarious ! A member of the committee asking advice from Ian and his colleagues about how he should go about disclosing the bribe he has just taken from Heineken !! WTF ?? This perfectly illustrates the embedded culture of kickbacks when the committee reviewing the process cant even see that its totally crooked. And these people represent the hard working people of the country . Great , what a system.

[@foxtyug9241]

I know I can't believe what I'm watching!!

[@rosiefay7283]

Bribe? What had Heineken wanted him to do on their behalf? How do you distinguish "gift" and "bribe"?

[@kg-4062]

@@rosiefay7283 when a massive multi national company gives a serving minister a "gift" .....it's not out the kindness of their heart. It's so they have sway with the governments position on any number of things going forward that would benefit their company. -Alcohol licensing - advertising - tax advantages - purchasing power - transport deals Any of things a serving minister could and would "help" with in the future. As I say .....it's not out of the kindness of their hearts that multi national companies court ministers.

[@RH-nk7eo]

Even more telling when the Labour chairman shuts him down and jokingly says it's because he doesn't want to welcome and scrutiny into his own affairs. It's pretty much an engrained part of all politics to accept bribes on a weekly basis.

[@superpantman]

Alberto Costa's analogy was ridiculous. Basically 'if its not me accepting a bribe, but rather a hard working employee, its still okay?'. Completely missing the point of the whole meeting. Ian Hislop's answer was on point, 'working hard' is a requirement in any job you're paid to do. If you have put extra effort in for someone you work for, it should be the responsibility of your superiors to reward you, not another company.

[@123eee]

He wanted to make Ian look callous by having him disagree. Costa, the son of Italian immigrants, the MP who voted 16 times against a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK (0 times for). His analogy when first intervening had the narrative quality of a thriller written for children. I said this before but KZbin has deleted my comment, for some reason.

[@ellyclark1299]

Also: why does Costa think Heineken are giving him a football ticket? Because they think he's a nice guy?

[@oneeyedgirl617]

I don’t care if Costa is a lawyer...he gave the impression of someone trying very hard to be cleverer than he actually is. How Mr Hislop refrained from stopping him halfway through his BS escapes me, but at least he let him fully make a D**k of himself.

[@JakusJacobsen]

But you don't understand. This is real people 'working hard' so of course they need expensive gifts. Its not like they are filthy commoners. It would have been cruel not to let a company give a gift to his staff you see.

[@shadowside8433]

Hmmmm, I had no idea who this guy was, with some bizzare lines of questioning...... turns out he is that rarest of things, a Scottish Conservative. Imagine my surprise!

[@robbie_]

Ian Hislop is right. MPs shouldn't accept hospitality at all. Paid directorships, unless it's their own business, are obviously corrupt too.

[@alanpattinson6211]

This debate speaks volumes. The MP's we elect to pass laws to control our behaviour want no restrictions whatsoever over their own.

[@marvintpandroid2213]

Using a fact as an excuse... Sums up one of the more used government tactics.

[@Stephenhendrys]

Ian Hislop is one of the greatest patriots there are. What an institution.

[@danielblack3572]

I’ve worked for charities for years. Each one had a policy about accepting gifts….. you just don’t do it! These excuses are ridiculous.

[@flippanties]

Hell, I work for a private company and even though I have absolutely no connection to the business end of things (I do IT for one of their contracts) and I STILL have to take an anti-bribery and corruption online course every year. If I know how to recognise bribery when I see it, MPs certainly should.

[@jaseboon6282]

Ian is consistent with all sides of Politics in his approach, that's called integrity.

[@jaseboon6282]

@The Padded Cell shut up you muppet, I watch him every week and he rips the piss out of every politician from all sides of politics. Not to mention his work in Private Eye. Where you from??? Mars??

[@manuel_winde]

@The Padded Cell Boris should be in jail and the tories have proved themselves to be so easy to hate 😄

[@manuel_winde]

@The Padded Cell do you think people who steal a packet of chewing gum or drop a cigarette butt on the floor should be thrown in jail then?

[@manuel_winde]

@The Padded Cellyou said “everyone who breaks laws should be thrown in jail” - where have I lost context?

[@michaelccozens]

@The Padded Cell How is it "integrity" to say you want a criminal in jail? Are you fucking serious? Here's an idea; if you don't want people to want you in jail, maybe stop, y'know, doing crimes? Journalists serve truth, not your bullshit impossible idea of "neutrality" that only serves to insulate you and yours from accountability. Away with you.

[@supremebuffalo6322]

Big respect to Ian Hislop and Richard Brooks for doing this, we really need people who can eloquently tell them whats what in these situations. Anything less upper class opposing them, and they'd probably act like they dont understand the person. They need it ramming down their throats in terms they understand.

[@janehale4402]

Ian Hislop and Richard Brooks ,my heroes, just demanding transparency, and holding politicians feet to the fire.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Except when the Labour party were in power, then they were passive lemmings.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

Ignore this Castro troll, Jane.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Ignore the Labour bot, Jane.

[@geoffpoole483]

@@fiddlecastro1453 Wrong!

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@geoffpoole483 Nope. I'm right.

[@DeanMoxley87]

1:56 Ian asks a question as to what the company was & whom it belonged too & the Chair immediately shuts him down as he fears what Hislop is going to ask him & admits to being fearful of Hislop actually questioning, it’s like watching a SICK Game Show

[@patking264]

Good for you Ian Hislop and co. finally, someone holding MPs to account! It’s not asking too much, in my humble opinion, to expect clarity regarding gifts, lobbying and hospitality for MPs for far too long, it’s been a murky area, so thank you and don’t let up! Personally, I think that MPs are paid well enough not to require expenses, except in exceptional circumstances - and don’t get me started on the House of Lords!

[@neilbiggs1353]

The slightly more troubling thing is who is doing this for councils and councillors? As local media has largely withered, we've got these vacuous wasters with virtually no scrutiny, and even if you do manage to get something via a Freedom Of Information request you can get a lot of stuff redacted at the whims of the council.

[@sjake8308]

There are certain expenses that MPs should be entitled to, for example expenses related to constituency offices, staff, etc, but what we should expect at the very least is for transparency and for them to treat taxpayers' money with same respect they would treat their own (instead of treating it as if it is their own).

[@ljdasilva3139]

While I disagree with some of his views, he has my utmost respect, Ian Hislop is a politicians worst nightmare - an honest and honourable man. It's a cruel world.

[@aidenl5215]

I’m a teacher at an international school (where the parents are insanely rich) the parents often try and give us gifts. We are not allowed to accept the gifts and they know that; that doesn’t mean they don’t put them in their child’s backpack or find some other means to give us these ‘gifts’ (these gifts are worth hundreds, sometimes thousands). It doesn’t take an idiot to wonder why a parent would give a gift worth thousands to a teacher. Many workplaces have the same policies. Calling something a gift doesn’t make it any less of a bribe.

[@johnwebb4292]

Totally agree. In this instance my particular response is to leave it in the back pack. Or reply in recordable format ie photocopied letter or email say "thank you" but reminding them that gifts and gratuities can not be accepted and unless it is claimed back buy the purchaser by x date it will be given to charity in the purchasers name and documentary proof of this will be kept for legal purposes. I bet the gifts are claimed back or they stop coming.

[@gavinastill7324]

Very well put!

[@sdc8547]

No-one pulls the wool over Hislop's eyes. He's a national treasure. I'll never forget him vs. Pierced Organ! Classic. 👍

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep, and notice it's not getting any headlines because Labour politicians are also guilty! 🤔

[@rogueriderhood1862]

@Nehemiah Scudder Ooh, where can I get one of those?

[@ellyclark1299]

@@fiddlecastro1453 Eh?

[@fiddlecastro1453]

@@ellyclark1299 Yes?

[@mendozamoore366]

@@ellyclark1299 someone is desperate to just point fingers at labour.

[@corporate_marshmallow]

Why is it that when I was a ten year old I was told by my mother it wasn't good enough to say "I didn't know" when she pulled me up on bad behaviour...? Seems to be the default among MPs

[@ellen5096]

I simply adore Ian Hislop, funny and intelligent. Watching him annihilate the grasping entitled politicians makes my heart sing.

[@philippayne6655]

As a NHS worker I would be dismissed for receiving a gift !

[@family-accountemail9111]

This is so true in many industries, over last 20 years I witnessed I could accept anything as there wer no rules trained out to workforce then it change to we could accept nothing and we could not even buy meals for visitors in the staff resultant. Additionally we were trained every year over a few hours regarding ethics in business which was of course all how my mother taught me as child. A lot of politicians have lost sight of what it is to behave well and only want what they can get form the job and some to make others life's misery while they get it for them, thier families and friends!

[@cathrynhesketh5703]

We are allowed to receive chocolates and biscuits collectively.but gifts of money have to be declared to management.sometimes we are allowed to put into the ward funds for the benefit of patients but never are we allowed to receive money and pocket it for ourselves.that is one sure way of getting our p45

[@00pugsly48]

You’ve got to love Ian Hislop and Private Eye. It’s disgusting that most media outlets never cover anything like this.

[@fredyscanlan]

Double fucking yawn....

[@00pugsly48]

@@fredyscanlan triple backflip. I won.

[@RunicRhino22]

@@fredyscanlan Sneed

[@robertely686]

The alternative media has been following this for years.

[@pjs232]

@@geowoo8884 I don't think it's true that the mainstream media are bought and paid for/dance to the tune of politicians generally speaking (certainly the BBC isn't, hence the conservatives are doing their best to take away their funding at the moment), but they certainly do have an interest in running particular stories or presenting them in particular ways. You need to remember that newspapers and privately owned tv networks are fundamentally businesses- i.e. they exist solely to sell themselves and make money, therefore they will run whatever they think will result in the most engagement from their particular audience/niche (stories attacking/embarrassing Labour do well in a right wing paper like the Daily Mail for instance) to keep them coming back and to keep them buying a new paper every day. Consequently their decision making process is almost entirely their own but they certainly will cherry pick what parts to report/give greater focus to certain aspects of the of the stories depending on what they think will play best with their particular base. Therefore the real (and sad) reason this kind of stuff isn't reported on with much prominence (because despite what you might think the dark side of political lobbying does get some coverage in more mainstream papers every so often) is that the vast majority of people don't actually understand or care about politics enough to pay the papers money to read the articles they run on it- it just doesn't make economic sense for the papers to give them focus.

[@Avalon_1991]

Whenever Ian Hislop talks he usually talks a lot of sense. On Have I Got News For You he always makes fantastic points and argues very well. He'd be a great MP or even a Prime Minister.

[@slayer9240]

He has way too much integrate to ever go in to politics.

[@johnmcnab4314]

He did make a Prime Minister. He brought us Boris Johnson, and we know how well that turned out…

[@Knotaro_bot]

it blows me away that Costa thought that was a genuine OK reason. Makes me wonder what else he has crossed wires on

[@HordrissTheConfuser]

Costa are owned by Coca Cola. Just in case you didn't already know.

[@zdavis4222]

Alberto Costa is a solicitor by training. Even if he worked in a different specialism within the law, he should be smart enough to know that tickets for the football match were not a 'free lunch'.

[@pauli2169]

Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. I work for a high profile company and the rules are spelt out in black and white , what is allowed (not much) and what is not allowed. And if you are not sure if the gift you are receiving is allowable then there is someone you can call to verify. I am not an MP and yet I seem to know when something is more than dodgy. And if you 2nd Job which is not against the rules, is there a conflict of interests? If I can work it out with my comprehensive school duration then why is it so difficult for MPs? Get rid of the lot of them. Thank god for people like Ian Hislop and his team.

[@cryhavoc999]

I too work for an international company and our rules (which we have to 'relearn' every year) on giving and accepting gifts (not that I have every given or received a gift) are draconian and very VERY clear - and where a government organisation is involved its basically a 'don't do it'. We also have a dept who we can contact if there is any doubt. That an established and long tenured government / civil service like the UKs is still going on like this is quite frankly mind boggling. Like yourself I cannot think of it as anything other than corruption. Love Ian Hislop and the Private Eye team who once provided the best legal response ever. “We refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram.”

[@marimurphy3856]

Absolutely agree time to get rid off the lot.

[@stephenholmes1036]

I have been a subscriber of Private Eye for 30 plus years. This is why!

[@earnestequivocation6250]

Hislop helps me feel I’m not alone in this surreal era of ‘fake news’ characterised by unbridled corruption, relentless disinformation and zero accountability. He is a model of intelligence and integrity in a sea of sleaze.

[@thomasmcbride6584]

Brilliant summation of what is happening at the moment.

[@mrtoad1408]

I can't fathom how he has kept going this long. I am disillusioned by it all and basically play no part of it. He's seen the grisly innards for decades but troops on and generally with a smile on his face. The dichotomy of his expressions against the questions he's asking is very disarming.

[@mhappy01]

Most of these MPs get to work during monday afternoon, they spend a few days in parliment then go home on thursday evening so that they can prepare for their surgery on saturday morning..... and WE give them over £80,000 for that!! and then they collect free bees and lobbying money on top! We truely are MUGS.

[@avalanche816]

More than you think, the 80k is spending money. Total allowances per annum are over 300k. Just saying..

[@byrnemeister2008]

@@avalanche816 To be honest I would be ok with 300k IF they were doing a job for their constituents. Paying for a permanent office in the constituency, staffed 5 days per week. Helping constituents of all types manage their issues. Not just the rich ones. Researching policy issues and voting based in that research and not just following the party line. At the moment I see NO value in MPs as they are currently working. You might as well just pull some people off the street and get them to file through the voting lobby.

[@LunaFunk70]

This is brilliant. Ian Hislop having to explain integrity to an MP 😂

[@tybes99]

2:33 "it is pretty much who you think it will be, and they're doing what you think they're doing" to hear it from someone in government puts my mind at ease for all the times i've been called a loony for saying that there are big companies that are blatantly lobbying for things that are detrimental to our society.

[@LordChesalot]

he is a journalist but the point is still salient.

[@tybes99]

@@LordChesalot well to hear it from someone directly holding the government to account still hits the same.

[@kanucks9]

Who would call you crazy for that? That's basically what lobbying is, it's not as though lobbyists are selected like jurors.

[@geecee310]

Most professional jobs in the UK preclude having a second job. What is it about the £80,000pa (+ expenses) role of MPs, that requires them to seek additional remuneration outside their already full time job?

[@johnscannell6596]

Ian Hislop is a hero. Wish there more like him.

[@actuallypaulstanley]

MP's should have to declare all outside commitments, role, pay, company/donor and context on every document and leaflet to their constituents. Should set out strict guidelines on font size, headings and location of these details on their leaflets.

[@StefanHillier]

Not only should it cover them, but family members as well. and if they don't like they can sod off and do something else. I don't think there's ever been a lack of interest in being an MP..

[@simonturner1]

MPs shouldn't have ANY outside commitments, it should be a full-time job, particularly as it's paid like one (or rather 2-3 given the basic pay is £80,000 a year). A requirement of becoming one should be that they have to sell all stocks, portfolios etc. and they can't buy more until they have left Parliament.

[@spiderbabybill]

@@simonturner1 They really manage to take the “public” and the “service” out of public service.

[@ray5869]

We all now must assume our MPs are corrupt right up to the point where they prove themselves otherwise, it's that simple! Well done Ian & team for pointing out the obvious transparencies which should and must be implemented in law as a minimum requirement to prevent such abuses taking place in office as serving members of the public.

[@jacobhames770]

Guilty until proven innocent? Glad muppets like you aren't running the country

[@rachelthecool2880]

@@jacobhames770 you realise that's a legal concept, not one of the ten commandments right?

[@jacobhames770]

@@rachelthecool2880 I was just pointing out how ridiculous what this guy said is. Innocent until proven guilty is not a concept it's a principle that everyone (even politicians) is entitled to.

[@pleasethankyou3869]

More of this please. Thank-you.

[@robertjones8644]

No gifts should be excepted while in any public office plain and simple

[@romber58]

"excepted",or "accepted"...? They have different meanings you know.

[@theamazingpete8039]

@@romber58 I think both... There should be no exception for the acceptance of public gifts 😉

[@petenztube8592]

The UK is blessed to have someone like Ian Hislop to call this stuff out and make the public aware. Lots of countries don't have anyone like him. :-(

[@twothreebravo2374]

Cracking down on this at my place ( Engineer for a big automotive manufacturer), gone are the days where corporate hospitality gifts to football, cricket etc are the norm from suppliers and contractors. Nights out and meals out aren’t allowed anymore due to conflicts of interest, anti corrupt policies etc. everything has to be raised, approved by a senior manager and cannot be accepted when there are negotiations happening. Why is it fine for people in government to get away with it?

[@seancfix7703]

Car Salesmen know if you make someone a cup of tea/coffee before any business is negotiated customers feel they are more akin to you or they owe you something and more likely to agree to sales. If your a politician accepting anything other than the normal salary and standard expenses is in my opinion to be looked at with suspicion.

[@byrnemeister2008]

Agreed. No second jobs. No share trade. No gifts. At least while they are a member of parliament. Simple to implement and simple to police. Most people have to accept those conditions.

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Same technique as the "County Lines" dealers use to ensnare their runners

[@julesfisher3551]

Many years ago, a company for whom I worked, had a "no gift policy" so if a supplier gave a gift it was put in a raffle for all company staff members. In one case a couple of tickets to a pop concert were given and raffled out. The winners were a member of production and member of warehouse staff. So the supplier was really surprised when the invited purchasing staff did not turn up and others did in their place. Gifts to MP’s should be raffled amongst their constituents. Then no inducement.

[@johndododoe1411]

Problem is gifts that are meant to be meetings. Like that shooting trip. Ideally a rich MP could reverse the gift, paying for all the entertainment; but most MPs aren't that rich.

[@kanucks9]

@@johndododoe1411 well if they can prevent those meetings from taking place, all the better.

[@samblack5313]

@@johndododoe1411 The tax payer pays for facilities where meetings should take place.

[@Krytern]

@@johndododoe1411 Don't remember ever needing to go on a shooting trip for a meeting. The office seems to work just fine.

[@johndododoe1411]

@@Krytern The idea is to create an emotional bond by hunting for food in nature, invoking instincts from Paleolithic times, but with modern tools and organization.

[@michaelkay1508]

It's nice to hear them being civil to each other and not shouting.

[@OrangeDog20]

Select committees are usually pretty good, as it's backbench MPs from multiple parties working together. Not the partisan pantomime of Parliamentary proceedings.

[@leonbanks5728]

This is why I love Ian Hislop.

[@MrNolz33]

Have spoken to Ian at an event a couple of years ago, a great guy to meet, and very down-to-earth, great banter. And I'll add great journalist

[@IamRobotMonkey]

Hell, I've worked in retail (usually privately owned) for over twenty-two years. We can't take gifts from the public if we, in their eyes, "go above and beyond" helping them. One old lady offered me a tenner for delivering her Christmas tree (which she had already paid official delivery charges on). I said it wasn't necessary, the sentiment is appreciated but I can't When she insisted I explained it's going in our (i.e. the firm's) charity tin she said "Okay, fair enough but I'd sooner you had it." The only thing I take comfort in is the fact head office match any charity donations but even that is tainted by the fact that "extra" tenner possibly would have been invested in the store, equipment, recruitment, training so may have been invested better and at least the charity would have got an honest donation. Or at least it was kept from the penny squeezing shareholders lol. I feel guilty claiming back the money on my meal deal my manager sometimes authorises, literally paid out the till. You can drive yourself mad if you have too much coffee and overthink. It's my super power!

[@delboykinobi5273]

Can we have Ian and the other 2 PIs given balcony seats in parliament ??

[@brianaustin5467]

That would just tie them up so that they could not do their day job. Far better that they read Hansard for the important stuff. (I know that you are probably being whimsical)

[@delboykinobi5273]

@@brianaustin5467 yeah fair point... perhaps install the balcony and invite all of UK's favourite comedians to form a rota and take turns heckling ? (Oh to exist in my happy place 😂)

[@brianaustin5467]

@@delboykinobi5273 I used to read Hansard in a previous existance. If you just highlight the significant bits you are left with a great deal of wasted space. Most of what is said is cant and waffle. If you have ever watched the Parliament Channel, you would think that force feeding this to anyone is cruel and inhuman punishment😉

[@actuallypaulstanley]

The largest financial institutions have _gifts and entertainment_ systems for declaring such items, but you have to declare the context of not only the gift, but the relationship. Have had many gifts taken into the annual Christmas gift drive, and been a member of the panel to scrutinise gifts too.

[@brianagray6940]

Hislop is a gem. Truth to power.

[@jceeross6763]

Wow loved this, Now Congress can learn a thing or two

[@dinsdalepiranah1189]

In my position as a lowly council worker ( public employee), a job I was made redundant from, we could not even accept a cup of tea, piece of cake or sweets, as it could be construed as a bribe. If we could not refuse the "gift" it had to be handed in at the end of the day and a receipt obtained. Failure to observe this would result in instant dismissal. I see no difference here. Except the "gifts" are much bigger, so that obviously makes it ok. As voters we trust these people with our vote, obviously they are inherently untrustworthy.

[@owhwaodwa6210]

I recently moved jobs to a larger company, and had to sit through extensive training on anti-bribery procedures and the potential penalties. If I had behaved as Mr Costa did in this instance, accepting a gift and passing it on to an employee I would be fired and so would th e employee. Whether it's bribery, sexual harassment or workplace bullying, Westminster seems to be about three or four decades behind the rest of the country - public sector or private.

[@malcolmwilkinson4449]

You have MP’s enforcing the laws governing MP’s behaviour and no one sees a conflict of interests? Therein lies the fundamental problem!!😡😡😡

[@johnallan1134]

Monopoly, and their banned no?. They clearly rubbing our nose in it

[@samblack5313]

Police policing police.

[@spiderbabybill]

Everyone sees the problem with that but the elected representatives have decided to not represent their constituents in that matter. It’s the same in Ireland if that makes you feel better/more depressed. We have tribunals with no legal authority where MPs lie or “do not recall” how money got into their hands. There’s no accountability and the public pays millions for the court circus. Our legal branch are so far up the legislative branch’s arse and vice versa that MC Escher would even be impressed. An ouroborus circle jerk where somehow the public always get screwed.

[@93RubixCube]

I have worked in healthcare for years we can except tokens of appreciation chocolates, cards, flowers etc. (generally accepted as to not offend the giver of the gift and made clear it was not necessary and is being accepted on behalf of the team). In most settings there is a policy where you cannot receive cash gifts or gifts over a certain value. You are also not in the job to receive gifts. I believe that should be the stance of all public servants.

[@asmith2212]

My life has been saved three times by an extraordinarily committed, talented and impossibly hardworking team of people at The Renal Unit, of The Churchill Hospital in Oxford. I wished to say 'thank you' ( at the very least!!) to the team, by placing a nice box of biscuits on the ward for Nurses / doctors....whoever, to enjoy whilst they go about their business saving other lives. NHS rules on gifts do not allow me to do this, and yet...... politicians who refuse to give a decent pay rise to those very folks saving lives on a daily basis, get to keep their noses in the trough, snuffling up way more than boxes of biscuits. Despicable.

[@jeanettesteed3326]

Absolutely love Ian Hislop, he says it as it is.

[@glenhuysamer]

It is simple. Politicians accepting gifts while in office should be regarded as been criminally corrupted and this arch should be continued for a period after the politician leaves office. An umbrella of oversight should also extend to that of family members. Term limits should also be mandatory for this will lessen the time made available for the opportunity of corruption.

[@dadamj]

When he started talking about his extraordinarily hard working member of staff I literally started welling up. What a trooper.

[@samblack5313]

😂😂😂😂

[@sjake8308]

Who, Costa or the member of staff? 😆

[@liamr194]

It shows the world they live in when they legitimise, casually, a free ticket from someone who may or may not have an ulterior motive as "just what happens". No, it doesn't. If I did that - as an advisor in local government - I would be fired. But MP's are beyond reproach.

[@fiddlecastro1453]

Yep, and Starmer admitted he was at a social gathering, which was forbidden by the lockdown rules he supported, he also voted to SACK NHS staff, and the Labour voters are all seething at me for pointing this out. Deary me.

[@liamr194]

@@fiddlecastro1453 it is definitely cross party. They live in a bubble. Their own Parliamentary Standards lead went down for possessing cocaine and hiring rent boys whilst dressing up as a kitchen repair man.

[@Gunni1972]

Hmmh, i thought they have no grasp on things. Seems like they hold onto more than i thought.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

@@fiddlecastro1453 we're not seething at you for pointing it out, we're seething at you because you're ignoring the unforgivable things the Tories have done and are doing, which are many times more that Labour have done. For every ten things the tories do wrong, you pick out the one thing Labour has done wrong and go at it relentlessly.

[@jgw9990]

@@fiddlecastro1453 it's possible for both parties to be corrupt bastards

[@Charlzton]

I want to hear more from these two

[@ro55reel5]

Read Private Eye

[@djb7302]

It’s ridiculous. I work for a large company, and we are not allowed to receive gifts. End of story. If the refusal of a gift might cause offence, e.g. an important overseas customer, then you accept the gift, hand it in to Human Resources, and the item is auctioned for charity. No ifs or buts. And I can only imagine that most large companies are the same. The government needs to get a grip on this immediately.

[@jirish8067]

Absolutely love Ian hislop.. so smart and quick