1750 GMT
London
Saturday
26 December 2009
Editor © Muhammad Haque
KHOODEELAAR! TOLD YOU SO! Our review of the year 2009 is enhanced by the exposure of UK G Brown's 'British vahloos' 'road show' as a wasteful, embarrassing act of incompetence and ineptitude...as confirmed by reports.
Those are, to begin with, in the Times and about 3 hours after we examined that, then published by the London Daily Mail group.
We have now challenged both media groups to show courage and tell the truth and expose the wasteful scam Crossrail.
[To be continued]
Labour's roadshows to promote the concept of Britishness are snubbed - by Britons
The Government's attempt at promoting Britishness has proved to be an expensive failure.
The Conservative Party criticised the national consultation on Britishness as a 'colossal waste of money' as they claimed it had been widely snubbed.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown came up with the concept of a national roadshow for a public consultation on a British bill of rights with eight planned debates around the country.
He launched the initiative after getting into Downing Street in 2007 with the intention that the regional events would collect ideas for a new 'Statement of Values' and 'Bill of Rights and Responsibilities'.
Scroll down for video of Governance of Britain in Leicester on December 10 2007
![Big Ben Houses of Parliament London England UK with Union Jack flag](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/26/article-1238497-07A52776000005DC-699_224x387.jpg)
![British Prime Minister Gordon Brown](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/26/article-1238497-07A1F477000005DC-473_224x387.jpg)
Flying the flag: But the Conservatives said the Government and Prime Minister Gordon Brown's attempt to promote Britishness has been an expensive flop
But according to a report in the Times today, the public, councillors and some ministers declined to attend events and it was revealed that people had even been offered money to turn up.
After fewer than 10 people went to the first event in Leicester in December 2007, which cost £37,000 and was hosted by Jack Straw, the Tories said the Ministry of Justice restricted attendance to people selected, and even paid, by the ministry.
It was claimed today that desperate civil servants paid 455 people between £75 and £85 each to be 'an invited member of the public' - adding up to more than £35,000.
The Tories also claimed that although 21 councillors turned up for the Leicester debate, attendance fell at subsequent events to 11, then 10, seven and two.
At the two recents events in Newcastle and Birmingham last month, not one councillor or official attended.
Shadow justice minister Eleanor Laing, said: 'Since 2007 we have had gimmick after gimmick on what it means to be British . . . Now, the public has spoken: Gordon Brown’s Britishness roadshow is a colossal waste of money.
'With the public finances in a mess, any plans for an even bigger nationwide non-event should be scrapped now.'
Chief Whip Nick Brown, who was hosting the Gateshead event, reportedly pulled out as did Justice Minister Michael Wills.
Mr Wills today hit out at the Conservatives and said: 'It is not true that the British public have snubbed the deliberative events. Of the 500 members of the public invited to deliberate across the first 5 events, 457 attended and of the 240 invited to return for the reconvened events 225 did so.
'Small payments are the norm for participants in research of this kind, to recognise the time and commitment they have given - in this case at the weekend.
'The Tories were invited to take part and refused - it's disappointing that they have such little regard for what it means to be British and the importance of this identity in a challenging world.
'And it is even sadder that they believe they have all the answers and are so contemptuous of listening to the British people about such an important issue. Now more than ever, politicians should show humility about the issues that matter to the British people.
'Instead they prefer to use this important issue for a cynical press release at Christmas.
'This Government believes that the British people themselves should lead this debate. That is why these events are being held.'
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Comments (25)
What about the asylum seekers putting a strain on our benefits, housing, jobs, health and education. What about bright British young people who can't find a decent job. What about the crumbling infrastructure, what about bringing in people for the best jobs instead of training our own out of work people. What about the billions to bail out the banks and now they want huge bonuses.What about the loopy judges who allow killers to stay in the UK and who hand out derisory punishments, .What about successive goverments selling our industry to other countries who then throw British workers out of work. What about a expensive, pointless war to waste all our money on, not to mention the loss of our soldiers lives.
As far as I can see this Britishness is about using patriotism to pull the wool over peoples eyes but we aren't quite as stupid as they think.
Nothing they can or will do matters now, except getting out of Parliament and folding the Labour party.
Long may they rot, GE in 4/5 months time people, it's not long round the corner, sharpen those proverbial knives.....
Ha that's a bit rich isn't it. Its Liebour who have tried to brand anyone who considers themselves british to be a racist and tried their best to destroy anything and everything associated with it means to be british.
And as for listening to the people... pull the other one... the only people this stinking government listen are themselves.
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