without fear or favour
What must I have been thinking? It’s been months since I had a pop at the current government and I completely agree that a good ol’ dig is more than overdue, especially with the fertile ground available of late. But rather than recycle the dirt and sleaze over the newly-departed Minister for Hypocrisy, I’d like to look at another star of recent past, specifically my personal favourite, Gideon Osbourne, and ask the question ‘is there nothing the former Chancellor of the Exchequer can’t do?’
News that Gorgeous George has acquired yet another part-time job, as chairman of the British Museum reminds me that there are two very different workforce economies in this country – one where you judiciously apply yourself to a task in hand, working full-time (and more) to gain skills, attributes, qualities and a level of expertise in your chosen field in the vain hope that you’ll eventually be recognised and promoted, perhaps along with a pay rise; and one where you enjoy a level of seniority that apparently qualifies you to run anything you fancy turning your Midas-like hand to, be it venture capital firm (9Yards Capital), investment bank (Robey Warshaw), financial corporation (BlackRock, for which he was handsomely remunerated £650,000 for a mere four days’ effort a month), media behemoth (London Evening Standard) or cultural institution (British Museum).
The latter’s rigorous, robust and detailed selection process was led by none other than deputy chair, Nemat Shafik, who it transpires had been appointed deputy governor at the Bank of England some seven years earlier by, ta-dah, George Osborne. Who’dathunked it. But just before Outraged from Tunbridge Wells takes to the airwaves, the position obviously had to seconded to stand-up to any scrutiny, and please step forward deputy chair to the deputy chair, former Gideon-appointed treasury minister, Lord James Sassoon. Any further clarification on George’s suitability can of course be supplied by senior British Museum trustee, and former BlackRock boss, Philipp Hildebrand.
In announcing the appointment, Nemat reminded us that Osborne possessed a “long-standing commitment to culture, both personally and in his various roles”. Call me a cynic but I notice the museum are currently hosting an exhibition on Ancient Rome’s infamous Emperor Nero and it seems entirely in keeping that our man who fiddled his taxpayer-funded mortgage expenses to the tune of £100,000 whilst the arts were put to his austerity sword should benefit from nepotism of truly historic proportions.
