Farepak again
Just received the following EDM from Pete Wishart MP. Irony of ironies, a Government minister calls for Mps to give up a day’s pay, but the Government won’t give a penny. It matched the tsunami appeal fund though.
This House notes the many generous contributions to the Farepak Response fund from individuals, communities and some financial institutions who have recognised that Christmas has been ruined for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the UK; believes that there is still time for further contributions to be made, hopes that this fund continues to grow but recognises it is a good way short of the total lost by families caught up in the Farepak collapse: believes it is now time for the Government to do its bit and show the same type of generosity and big heartedness; and further believes that the Government should match-fund the total secured in the relief fund and hopes that this would act as an incentive to businesses and other financial institutions.
matthew said on November 28th, 2006 at 11:15 pm:
meh, the Farepak relief fund to recover people’s hampers doesn’t quite bring the same urge to contribute as “all my family died in a tsunami, please help”
It’s horrible and distasteful, that MPs pick and choose relatively undeserving causes for cynical PR purposes.
Tom said on November 29th, 2006 at 10:31 am:
Wishart is not a Government Minister.
Tom said on November 29th, 2006 at 10:34 am:
But perhaps you meant Ian McCartney, who organized the relief fund, and who has indeed given a day’s pay (along with all other DTI Ministers). Do you really think the Government should bail out a private savings scheme? Would a Conservative Government do that? Don’t you think it might set a dangerous precedent?
Simon said on November 30th, 2006 at 11:34 am:
Pete Wishart is one of the ‘brigadoon brigade’ (SNP) , quite why he is calling for all MP’s ( english, welsh and northern irish as well as the scots) to contribute to a UK wide fund one only knows! He ain’t one of the SNP intelligensia that’s for sure!