Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Exec,

At my age, to suffer a little frustration is a good thing, as it reminds me of early youth.

----------------------

CC.

I thought you had blown yourself up.

Be careful, I might rattle your cage again

PS.

I wouldnt try to write a book.

Probably, it would take you far too long.

Lunchtime news>

The Financial Services Authority has just put out the most tantalising statement about raids it has conducted this morning on 16 addresses in London, Oxfordshire and the south-east of England.
It describes these raids as it "largest-ever operation against insider dealing". And it has certainly put its resources where its mouth is: it has deployed 143 of its own investigators in the swoop and has collaborated with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
The FSA says that six men, including "two senior City professionals at leading city institutions and one City professional at a hedge fund" have been arrested. They are suspected of involvement in "a sophisticated and long-running insider-dealing ring".
The watchdog adds that it believes these City professionals passed inside information to traders who "traded based on this information and made significant profits as a result".
What's the significance of all this?
Well, there can no longer be any doubt that the FSA is serious about cracking down on City crime, especially illicit trading in shares and securities when in possession of privileged insider knowledge.
The FSA massively increased the resources it deploys on surveillance and enforcement three years ago - including installing a powerful computer system, Sabre, which analyses trading data and identifies patterns of possible illegal dealing.
That investment in policing now appears to be paying off in a stream of investigations and prosecutions. Leading City firms will be hoping that they don't have too many bad apples within their ranks.
------------------------------------------
About timeand get back every penny these ba**ards have made illegallylock them upand throw away the keysffs keep making examples of these cnuts until they get the message.

Does this mean, that if I read MM postings, I will have to be more careful in future?

8-)

So Stephen Byers now admits to making up stories to attempt to gain employment as a lobbyist.

I take it then that, 'He admits to attempting to gain pecuniary advantage by a written or verbal statement', a straight up and down criminal offence. Although it is extremely rare to prosecute people re this (the attempt), it has been done to ordinary people in the past. But I suppose, 'it would not be deemed in the public interest to prosecute', well I for one think it would.

Mind you I am sure he did not exaggerate his previous dealing, but just got scared when he had been found out.

Now Gordon Brown states an enquiry will not be required. That's alright then.

The trough gets deeper, as the pigs get greedier.

It just seems that no matter what, nobody is expected to take responsibility for their actions or inactions. Whatever happened to accountability? This applies to life in general.
2517

Greek.

The troughs get bigger the higher up you go.

I doubt that the noses are much different whichever party smells the trough.

I doubt that a prosecution on any grounds would be successful and therefore would be a waste of public money.

The public can view the facts and make their own opinions.

Some of those defined as "guilty" will not be standing for re-election.

The bleating of MPs that, they made mistakes in not notifying Parliament of their various "perks" is nauseating, and for me, more dangerous to the opinion of the stature of the Government and that of all political parties.

I copy the below form MP and Expenses thread.

So it is again long winded, but in defence Tabby did ask for details.

(I must get back to my charts.)

======================


The thing which amazes me is the stupidity of those concerned in the latest shock horror episode, whether they are tory, Labour or Liberal MPs.

But in all honesty, I am not surprised and thought that the behaviour demonstrated that which common practice was.

I cant see that what they were trying to do was that wrong.

They have useful knowledge and are prepared to flog it to businesses or
other bodies.

They will not be in parliament at the time of their new business contracts and providing an introduction to a department, or minister, is hardly, in my mind, a felony.

If they are making payments in cash or kind to the officials or ministers, in order change policies in favour of one or other companies that is a different consideration.

I cant see the difference to a company, or a body, having a spin doctor to advise them on approach and presentation.

I think, undeclared unspoken of visits, or the reception of repeated hospitality by serving MPs is a different matter.

There is also an obvious danger, if a Minister does not declare all his business interests at time of office and should not be placed in an office, which may allow him to make decision benefiting those interests.

But I believe that when MPs are in Ministerial office they have to place the management of their personal business affairs, in the hands of a third party.
================

I can see little between the actions which have occurred and those of M. Thatcher advising a company on the spreading of Cancer and Ill health in Eastern European countries and the Third World.

Some may wish to congratulate her, for her business acumen.







http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Margaret_Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher and Philip Morris

In 1992 Margaret Thatcher signed on as an international consultant to the Philip Morris tobacco company at a pay rate of US $500,000 annually, with half to be paid directly to Mrs. Thatcher and half to be paid to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation

According to the 19 July 1992 U.S. Sunday Times article, Ms. Thatcher's "advice will be sought on controversial issues including the penetration of tobacco markets in Eastern Europe and the Third World. She will also be asked to help resist attempts to ban tobacco advertising in the European Community and to fight cigarette taxes and state-run tobacco monopolies." Thatcher was a non-smoker who spoke out against tobacco several times while Prime Minister.

The Independent (of London) reported that Philip Morris paid for a 70th birthday bash for Ms. Thatcher on 23 October 1995 in Washington, D.C. 800 guests attended and the estimated cost of the party was $1 million.

Did she pay tax on this!?!!!!

Fred,

I agree that the noses are not much different whichever party smells the trough.

I also doubt that a prosecution on any grounds would be successful (but it should as the evidence is there) and therefore would be a waste of public money.

But Note news from 3 days ago... The Bloody Sunday inquiry report has been delayed again, after more than 12 years and 200 million of taxpayers' money. And that inquiry will I have no doubt 'Go Nowhere', but of course that is different as although a government instigated enquiry, it is not investigating MP's only members of our armed forces

I also was amazed at the stupidity of those that the programme caught out. I put it down to them being so conceited, they feel that they can get away with anything. And who is to say they can't.

.

NM,

Morality is flexible and usually pragmatic..

Value judgements are often bought and vary from time to time.

I would not like to have lived in Britain in the earlier periods of the 20th century.

==========

Edited

Copied.

What I would like to know is, the amount of money which Israeli groups are giving to the various political parties, and what they are expecting to get in return?

Perhaps, a light slap on the wrists.

Unfortunately, Israeli lobbying is embraced by all three major parties.

What does Israel get from it?

What for, do they consider different allegiances when legislation?

I am referring to the Cons. Labour and Liberal. Friends of Israel.

.

FSA: Biggest-ever insider-trading raid
Deutsche Bank, the leading German bank, the French giant BNP Paribas and hedge fund Moore Capital are now known to have workers caught up in an FSA probe.
The operation, which began in 2007, is the FSA's biggest operation against insider dealing.
It is alleged the city professionals passed inside information to traders, either directly or via middlemen.
The traders then allegedly acted on this information and made significant profits as a result.

Mnamreh,

Re Guilt and Shame.... Agree 100%.

.

Clegg goes to the Westminster Chapel prays to God and asks: please God if I am Prime Minister how many years before the people of Britain will be happy again?
One hundred years, replies God. Clegg weeps and leaves.
Cameron goes to the Westminster Chapel prays to God and asks: please God if I am Prime Minister how many years before the people of Britain will be happy again?
Fifty years, replies God. Cameron weeps and leaves.
Brown goes to the Westminster Chapel prays to God and asks: please God if I continue to be Prime Minister how many years before the people of Britain will be happy again?
There is a spooky silenceGod weeps and leaves

NM.

Thanks and apologies, I had "is not" where I don't think it should have been.

I have edited the sentence to be more in line with what I was thinking,

(At the time, I was looking back over the "moral" changes over the last 50years.)

.

Tabasco,

Very funny, but on trying to second guess what was coming I thought your last line was going to be one of the following four.

1 Brown goes to Westminster Capel...Prays to God.....Please God if I continue to be Prime Minister how many years before the people of Britain believe I am God.

2 God goes to Westminster Chapel....Prays to Brown.

3 Brown goes to Westminster Chapel....Prays to self.

4 Both Brown, God and the Holy Spirit go to Westminster Chapel .....Pray To Peter Mandelson, the real Messiah.

Greek,

Many a true word is said in jest.

Be careful what you are saying, he may hear you!

Just thinking about "shame".

Does one beat it into somebody else.

How long should that experience/feeling last?

Who defines what is shameful?

I will know return to the charts, something else I don't understand.

Greeklol.all four possible
I cannot understand how the markets have held up so wellI still believe we are in recession? the number of Britons claiming unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly in FebruaryI would say the number of threatening adverts on TV for illegally claiming benefitsalong with the degree of difficulty has helped crucially the number of people in employment also fell to a four-year lowvery worrying!The latest labour market data don't help to clear up any of the uncertainty about the economic outlookCity bonuses asidewage rates are poorwhich might have helped with labour/employmentbut figures dont seem to back this theory upand also leave families with less money in their pockets to spendor debt manage?RBS and Lloys committed to lend an extra 25 billion and 14 billion respectively in return for state supporton the understanding that credit-starved businesses could surviveof course the Banks failed miserablyblaming falling demand for business loans due to recessionwho buys that one?I struggle to feel positive about the marketsbut obviously those holding the big bucks are confidentor are investors/small traders getting mugged into another big hitI like to think I am covered as Labour seeks to cut a budget deficit set to hit 12 percent