Earlier this week the Guardian carried an article by Grover Norquist, a right wing toss pot so ridiculous that even one of Bush’s Treasury minister’s described him thus:
Norquist’s anti-tax pledge was directly responsible for last summer’s debt-ceiling standoff that wrecked the nation’s credit rating by leading the nation to the brink of default. “Congress was willing to cause severe economic damage to the entire population,” marvels Paul O’Neill, Bush’s former Treasury secretary, “simply because they were slaves to an idiot’s idea of how the world works.”
This stupid, dangerous, anti democratic, fraudulent, corrupt liar obviously learned his trade well.
Adviser to the Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party Michael Forsyth, 1989.
Arnold Kemp, former editor of the Glasgow Herald, writes in his memoir (The Hollow Drum: Scotland since the war, Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1993, p. 195) that:
At the start of Forsyth’s tenure there appeared an American adviser, Grover Norquist. He had apparently been a member of the republican team which had destabilised the Dukakis presidential campaign of 1998. He was supposed to be the master if the blacker arts of disinformation. According to anecdote he travelled round Scotland talking to people and compiling a ‘hit list’ of the politically incorrect in the party. John McKay was said to have spent an uncomfortable day in his company visiting the Borders. Hughes confirmed that his services had been paid for by a right-wing American organisation though he could not recall its name. (It was, in fact, the Heritage Foundation). Hughes had an hour or so with him. He told him: ‘You might be good for the States but I doubt if you’re applicable to Scotland’. He did not think anything much came from his recommendations. but it is a fair deduction, admittedly from circumstantial evidence, that a decision was taken to purge the list of parliamentary candidates of ‘unsuitable’ names.
Unfortunately for Forsyth the prediction about the applicability of Grover’s brand of corrupt politics was correct. Forsyth however seems to have learned nothing in the last 25 years or more despite being one of the architects behind the destruction of the Tories north of the border, before continuing this point it is interesting to note that Forsyth was way ahead of the game in certain areas.
The NHS reforms that recently passed through parliament had the support of over 100 Lords and MP’s with financial links to companies that will benefit directly from the contracting out of NHS services. In 1990 Forsyth was challenged over his links to a lobbying company, Michael Forsyth Associates, which represented various companies that went on to win NHS contracts for Cleaning and other services. Challenges as to Forsyth’s conduct were hampered as Ministers’ behaviour was subject to rules drawn up by the Prime Minister and, Thatcher being the democratic hero of the right that she is, the rules were secret!
The Guardian (London) January 10, 1990 MP challenges minister over ‘business links’ BYLINE: By ALAN TRAVIS, Political Correspondent
The Independent January 16 1990, Tuesday Leading Article: MPs and their interests SECTION: Editorial ; Pg. 18
Back to Forsyth’s contribution to Scottish freedom from people like himself who have the morals of Ponzi salesmen and the democratic credentials of Mugabe.
On BBC Question Time he insulted not only the integrity of another panellist but the intelligence of most Scots in a wonderful display of hypocrisy.
TORY grandee Lord Forsyth has apologised to X-man actor Alan Cumming after the pair clashed on BBC TV’s Question Time programme.
Mr Cumming accused Lord Forsyth of xenophobia after he was questioned about his support for Scottish independence despite taking US citizenship.
When challenged by Lord Forsyth, Mr Cumming said he was a British citizen as well. He said: “What is the big deal – I’m a joint citizen”. He asked the audience: “What about xenophobia ladies and gentlemen?”
Lord Forsyth told the actor that people like him and tax-exile Sean Connery would “do anything to get Scotland independent except live here and put up with the consequences”.
Mr Cumming tweeted yesterday: “Michael Forsyth just apologised to me for his xenophobic comment during the recording! Nice to know he realised how cheap it was I suppose.”
Lord Forsyth said he wanted to make a point of apologising after the show because he realised Mr Cumming was visibly upset.
He added: “What Mr Cumming and others have to realise is that when the Yes campaign was launched a lot of the leading lights, such as Sean Connery, who signed the declaration do not live or pay taxes in Scotland and will not have to live with the consequences of separation if it happens.
“That is the point I was making and that was the context. To suggest that my comments were xenophobic is simply ridiculous.”
My response to the Tory cunt and his talk about people who do or do not pay UK taxes:
Lord Ashcroft – liar, fraudster, conman, supported by 3 Tory Leaders
Philip Green – appointed to advise the government on waste £1.2 billion in dividends off-shored, tax free, to his wife
???? – millionaire Tory donor sleeps on private jet to avoid taxes
Alexander Heath – a director of Tory front Taxpayers Alliance living in France paid no UK taxes
Lycamobile – largest corporate donor to Tory party pays no Corporation Tax
