A young Intern was giggling and reading out a headline, from The Daily Telegraph, to one of the secretaries. He said:
"Just listen to this! 'Hands Off Our Land: top civil servant lands planning job' It goes on to say: 'A senior civil servant at the heart of controversial planning reforms has been accused of cashing in on his position by accepting a lucrative job in the property industry.' "
Well, I thought - what's wrong with that? All the politicians do it, don't they? Did you see that Peter Oborne TV programme about Blair?
Now Blair cashed in' alright! Done very nicely, thank you! So no doubt the civil servants thought it was their turn now.
The Intern chattered away inconsequentially to the secretary, till they both grew tired of the subject. Then they went off to 'get a coffee'. I sneaked
over and read the article. It was written by Christopher Hope and James Kirkup.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8795758/Hands-Off-Our-Land-top-civil-servant-lands-planning-job.html
The article reveals that the civil servant in question is one Richard McCarthy, a director-general at the Department for Communities and Local Government. So, I thought to myself - yet more trouble for the triumvirate of Foolish Monkeys Shapps, Clark and Pickles. They just seem to welcome bad headlines, don't they? Anyway - it seems that this McCarthy chap is going to join Capita Symonds. If you look up details about Capita Symonds, you'll discover that they advise major developers on planning and construction.
Yes! That's right! You did read that correctly! This McCarthy, who has been working for old 'Bagpuss' Pickles and 'Disgusting' Clark in drawing up the Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), is now going to work for a company that could well benefit from that same new planning framework!
According to the article, John Mann, a Labour MP was, to put it mildly, perturbed by this state of affairs! He said that Mr McCarthy’s move was “wholly unacceptable”.
Was this Mr McCarthy perturbed by Mr Mann's concerns? The answer - short and simple - is 'No'! In fact, he seems quite delighted at having been 'head-hunted' earlier in the year.
The Daily Telegraph article comments:
In a statement issued by his new firm, Mr McCarthy, whose current job title is Director-general of Neighbourhoods, said: “I am looking forward to driving the business forward in this sector and further cementing Capita Symonds’ status as a leader in delivering a wealth of property and infrastructure solutions.”
Sir Bob Kerslake, the permanent secretary at the local government department said Mr McCarthy had “made a huge contribution to the work of the department over a long period, and has led on the introduction of major changes in housing, planning and regeneration.”
'Regeneration' - now there's a word that has a ring. Wasn't it 'casinos' that were being pushed by the previous government as one of the regenerative forces to solve economic woes in deprived areas?
In a subsequent interview with Building magazine, Mr McCarthy said:
“There is absolutely no connection between this and the timing of planning reform. When an opportunity comes you can’t wait for everything to finish before moving on.”
So there it is, in a nutshell, as the old Latin tag says 'Carpe diem!' - Seize the day! This McCarthy certainly 'carped' on the 'diem'! Many in Whitehall will say 'Jolly good luck to you, McCarthy, old chap!'
There are others though who will shake their heads at the moral turpitude that seems to have descended onto the heads of those working in Westminster! First - it was the scheming MPs who scrabbled in the dirt for every last penny they could pick up. Now - our civil servants are rushing headlong into the arms of commercial companies that they should avoid like the plague, if they wish to
maintain their integrity!
Meanwhile - soldiers, sailors and airmen who have been in the heat of battle are being told they are surplus to requirements!
It's a funny old world you humans inhabit. I'm just glad I'm a cat!
'Bye'
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