{"id":63647,"date":"2022-07-01T07:59:26","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T06:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=63647"},"modified":"2022-07-01T07:59:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T06:59:26","slug":"the-tories-are-rotten-to-the-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2022\/07\/01\/the-tories-are-rotten-to-the-top\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tories are rotten to the top"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sleaze within the Tories really does go very deep. As Politico and many others report<\/a>, Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher MP had to resign last night after getting drunk the previous evening and groping two younger men at the Carlton Club - a Tory establishment - in central London.<\/p>\n

In itself, so what you might ask? Such things happen. But Chris Pincher has form. He had resigned from the same post before - in 2017 - for the same offence, but kept the Whip.<\/p>\n

And when reappointed to the post in February this year by Johnson his inability to behave was known. Supposedly a minder was appointed to stop him from drinking excessively to prevent what happened this week. That clearly did not work. But there again, if it was thought necessary the appointment should never have taken place.<\/p>\n

Apparently, it has already been decided that Pincher will keep the Tory whip. He supposedly did 'the right thing' by resigning, albeit only when it was obvious that The Sun had the story. As a result, he is apparently forgiven. There is no question of him resigning, although his offence seems much worse than that of Neil Parrish, who watched porn in parliament. No doubt Johnson does not want a by-election. They do not go too well for him these days.<\/p>\n

What to think? First, let's remember there are victims here: two people were assaulted. That should not be forgotten. I wonder how many more have been?<\/p>\n

Second, there's no doubt Pincher was set up by Tory MPs who do not like him:\u00a0 politics is always a nasty place and the Tory party is a cesspit of mistrust, dislike and factions now.<\/p>\n

Third, Johnson cannot avoid questions on this: he appointed Pincher knowing the risks.<\/p>\n

Fourth, this is the fifth Tory scandal in three. months. How many more are there to come?<\/p>\n

Fifth, why does politics attract such people? It seems to have a particular appeal to the weak, the predator and the abuser. It is not to its advantage that this is the case. Why can't better vetting be done?<\/p>\n

Sixth, why won't the Tries do the right thing? Is it that they have just forgotten what that is now?<\/p>\n

Answers to some of these questions may emerge. But what strikes me is that we have a government so akin to that which John Major an in the 90s. He was, of course, far from innocent, having an affair with Edwina Curry whilst prime minister, but compared to Johnson he was a paragon of virtue. His party was not. And what that implies is that this issue is systemic. The Tories are really not to be trusted.<\/p>\n

I am not saying others are innocent: Labour has its scandals and a former SNP MP has gone to prison this week for embezzlement. But the Tories do this differently. That Johnson appointed Pincher knowing the issues is evidence of that. They are rotten to the top.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The sleaze within the Tories really does go very deep. As Politico and many others report, Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher MP had to
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