I noted the demise of the Audit Commission on Friday, and said:
The audit functions of the Commission will be moved to the private sector. Its research activities will simply cease.
So, rich pickings for the Big 4 firms who spent so much supporting the Tory because before the general election there then. How good of Dave to send such a nice “thank you”.
A commentator on this blog commented as follows:
“A quick search of the Electoral Commission website shows that in the period from Q2 2005 to date, non-cash donations to the Conservative Party consisting of staff secondments and consultancy services includes:
Firm Sum donated Deloitte
£323,501.75
Ernst & Young
£63,989.08
Grant Thornton
£15,000.00
KPMG
£435,973.00
PWC
£533,063.68
Total
£1,371,527.51
Money, influence and politics. Nothing more need be said.”
I fear that's true.
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Hi Richard. I made the comment as it is clear to me that the the Big 4 might be looking for payback. I’m not sure I understand your comment “I fear not”?
I would love to see a spotlight turned on the activities of the Big 4 and the way they influence Government. For example, PwC and KPMG earned £1.1m and £1.7m respectively from the Audit Commission in 2009/2010 (http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/aboutus/procurement/spendwithsuppliers/spendwithsupplier200910/Pages/Default.aspx). So they get paid to advise on how to run a public service and then get paid again when it’s privatised. It stinks. I believe that auditors have too many vested interests generally and would love to see a more powerful NAO with a much broader remit.
@Deeply Depressed
I have edited to make my meaning clearer
Wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments
@Richard Murphy
Thanks Richard. Whilst it’s a little bit off-topic and an old(ish) report, Prem Sikka nails it in the following:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtreasy/144/144w202.htm
I simply don’t understand this coalition of vested interests.
@Deeply Depressed
Again, agreed
I think you really do! You just do’t want the answer in your head to be true – I’ve had my head in my hands for a while now, horrified at what I’m learning to the point I can barely switch on the TV or radio these days for fear of what bit of nonsense I’m about to hear anounced from up on high. When I do put on the TV, I ten to have it on just to wathc the Trials of Life or Planet Earth DVDs these days. That is my device to keep the depression away.
@Deeply Depressed
Just to bring some balance to the story, below is a table detailing donations received by the Labour and Lib-Dem Partys from the same audit firms for the same period. It seems all parties benefit from ‘pro bono’ work to some extent. I am not saying I agree with it, just pointing out it isn’t just the Torys that accepted donations. I guess consideration also needs to be given to whether the support was offered by the audit firms (demonstrates leanings by firm toward one party over the other) or asked for by the parties (demonstrates more resources required by one party over the other). The answer to this may inform why the numbers are as they are.
Sum Donated
Firm Labour Conservative Lib-Dem
Deloitte LLP £13,500.00 £323,501.75 £0.00
Ernst & Young £0.00 £63,989.08 £0.00
Grant Thornoton £0.00 £15,000.00 £0.00
KPMG LLP £284,766.00 £435,973.00 £242,587.24
PWC £184,193.00 £533,063.68 £78,710.00
Total £468,959.00 £1,371,527.51 £321,297.24
[…] The issue of who the Big 4 did fund before the election seems to have been of some (actually, considerable) interest since the figures for the Tories were posted here. […]
[…] The issue of who the Big 4 did fund before the election seems to have been of some (actually, considerable) interest since the figures for the Tories were posted here. […]