Large multinational companies come in for a lot of stick. Some of it is entirely justified, but one of the cardinal sins of the left is to ignore the many truly awesome charitable activities of many of our largest private companies. Quite by chance, I happened upon a couple of cases of such generosity which truly brought a tear to my eye.
In Barnet, despite there being many extremely well off people, there are also people for who life is a constant struggle. A couple of stunning acts of generosity really caught my eye. Let me tell you the full story, which I'm sure will rekindle your faith in humanity. There is a young man who lives no more than three miles from my front door. His name is Brian. Unlike many wealthy people in Barnet, Brian doesn't own his own home. If it wasn't for the generosity of the local Methodist Church, Brian may well not have a home at all. Happily they have provided Brian with a nice flat, at well below the market rate. Brian is a kindly soul. He has devoted his life to helping other people. Whilst many people are tied up in the rat race, Brian does a whole string of part time jobs, solely with the intention of helping his fellow man. As he doesn't have a real job with a real company, Brian is lucky that he gets a little help from the taxpayer. Whilst Barnet is full of many millionaires, Brian has to survive on a paltry £114,000 a year, generously given by his many friends who make up the taxpaying public in return for his public service.
Because Brian finds it hard to survive in this cutthroat world, it seems lots of people are very generous and like to buy him dinner to cheer him up. Not only that, but they take him to the swankiest restaurants to cheer him up. One of the nicest restaurants in London is the Butlers Wharf Chop House. Brian is so lucky that he was taken their two days on the trot in June by his friends at large companies.
21/06/2011 - Dinner at Butler's Wharf, Chop House, 36e Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE. Estimated value: £50.00 - Allan Larsen, CEO, Falck Danmark A/S.
22-JUN-2011 - Lunch at the Butler's Wharf Chop House - Mr Pierre Jeanjean JCDecaux
Isn't it nice that these companies take poor old Brian out for big slap up dinners in this way? Some people are cynical, but personally I applaud such generosity towards the less well to do members of society. We at the Barnet Eye think it's great that Brian had such nice dinners two days on the trot as such a fine establishment and got someone else to pay. Unlike many more cynical people, we see nothing wrong with companies involved in the supply of services to the GLA and the LFEPA taking out Assemly member Brian Coleman for such lovely meal. As he's the chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, he's a very important chap and he needs his dinners. It is only natural for companies involved in the provision of services to such authorities to want to buy the chairmen of the authorities a nice lunch and have a cosy chat and cheer him up.
I say to all of those who criticise poor unfortunate Brian for the crime of just enjoying himself at other peoples expense - "Get a life" - why shouldn't he have a bit of fun if big companies such as these are happy to splash out. It's not like things like fire and emergency services are important, is it? We just think it's sad he can't eat at the chop house every day.
It is also good to see that Brians friendly tax payers helped him with his travel arrangements into town. It makes me proud that the British Taxpayer is so kind and generous.
21/06/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St.£11.44 21/06/2011 Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00
I think it's scandalous that Brian's fellow members of the LFEPA committee are not wined and dined as much, the poor darlings must feel so left out.
It also scandalous that his fellow assembly members on the LFEPA don't claim any of their expenses with quite the same gusto. What is wrong with these people?
So lets hear it. Three cheers for the generous multinationals making sure that our politicians aren't starving.
In Barnet, despite there being many extremely well off people, there are also people for who life is a constant struggle. A couple of stunning acts of generosity really caught my eye. Let me tell you the full story, which I'm sure will rekindle your faith in humanity. There is a young man who lives no more than three miles from my front door. His name is Brian. Unlike many wealthy people in Barnet, Brian doesn't own his own home. If it wasn't for the generosity of the local Methodist Church, Brian may well not have a home at all. Happily they have provided Brian with a nice flat, at well below the market rate. Brian is a kindly soul. He has devoted his life to helping other people. Whilst many people are tied up in the rat race, Brian does a whole string of part time jobs, solely with the intention of helping his fellow man. As he doesn't have a real job with a real company, Brian is lucky that he gets a little help from the taxpayer. Whilst Barnet is full of many millionaires, Brian has to survive on a paltry £114,000 a year, generously given by his many friends who make up the taxpaying public in return for his public service.
Because Brian finds it hard to survive in this cutthroat world, it seems lots of people are very generous and like to buy him dinner to cheer him up. Not only that, but they take him to the swankiest restaurants to cheer him up. One of the nicest restaurants in London is the Butlers Wharf Chop House. Brian is so lucky that he was taken their two days on the trot in June by his friends at large companies.
21/06/2011 - Dinner at Butler's Wharf, Chop House, 36e Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE. Estimated value: £50.00 - Allan Larsen, CEO, Falck Danmark A/S.
22-JUN-2011 - Lunch at the Butler's Wharf Chop House - Mr Pierre Jeanjean JCDecaux
Isn't it nice that these companies take poor old Brian out for big slap up dinners in this way? Some people are cynical, but personally I applaud such generosity towards the less well to do members of society. We at the Barnet Eye think it's great that Brian had such nice dinners two days on the trot as such a fine establishment and got someone else to pay. Unlike many more cynical people, we see nothing wrong with companies involved in the supply of services to the GLA and the LFEPA taking out Assemly member Brian Coleman for such lovely meal. As he's the chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, he's a very important chap and he needs his dinners. It is only natural for companies involved in the provision of services to such authorities to want to buy the chairmen of the authorities a nice lunch and have a cosy chat and cheer him up.
I say to all of those who criticise poor unfortunate Brian for the crime of just enjoying himself at other peoples expense - "Get a life" - why shouldn't he have a bit of fun if big companies such as these are happy to splash out. It's not like things like fire and emergency services are important, is it? We just think it's sad he can't eat at the chop house every day.
It is also good to see that Brians friendly tax payers helped him with his travel arrangements into town. It makes me proud that the British Taxpayer is so kind and generous.
21/06/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St.£11.44 21/06/2011 Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00
I think it's scandalous that Brian's fellow members of the LFEPA committee are not wined and dined as much, the poor darlings must feel so left out.
It also scandalous that his fellow assembly members on the LFEPA don't claim any of their expenses with quite the same gusto. What is wrong with these people?
So lets hear it. Three cheers for the generous multinationals making sure that our politicians aren't starving.
1 comment:
Mr Mustard would not have bothered going home between these two sittings!
Surely some other supplier could have stumped up for a hotel room as one gets tired and emotional after a good dinner with friends ( or so Mr Mustard often finds ) and the Travelodge is just a short stagger to the GLA building.
Now here is a serious tip. Some of the halls of residence in london let the student rooms out at a bargain rate, compared to a hotel, during the holidays. Mr Mustard stayed just off Trafalgar Sq for about £50 after a particularly heavy meeting last summer.
Yours frugally
Mr Mustard
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