21/10/2014 00:00
TW
0

Dear Sir,
I enjoyed Andrew Ede’s article today “Director-Generals and the Revolving Door” and agree with his main conclusions but want to add to them. I have friends who were at the centre of the civil service in Palma and Holyrood.
In Palma (population say 1 million) some 300 positions that are at the behest of each new government - in Scotland (population 5 million) 8. In addition the 8 slots are purely advisory while the 300, as he noted, are hands on management. He referred to jobs for the boys, lack of continuity and poor management through inappropriate selection but the main negative cost is corruption.
If I’m elected and suggest to Andrew a position as DG (Director-General) for ports and airports he’d be flattered but as he would have to give up his present position my offer would need to be generous. Let’s suppose I offer enough and he accepted but within months he sees my political popularity in free fall such that I’m sure to be voted out at the next election. So in a couple of years’ time I will get voted out but he’d lose his job and suppose his ex-company was in no mood to rehire him. What to do? Obviously he has to make hay while the sun shines. He could set about corrupting every contract he can get his hands on to make up a nest egg that may have to last for the rest of his days. It has happened a lot in the past and there is no reason why the future will be any different. The other problem with our local politics are the excessive number of government levels (Madrid, Baleares, Majorca, Pueblo) each one with its own cohort of DGs.
Mike Lillico
Playa de Palma

Dear Sir,
Once again I tip my hat to Hugh Ash. His attack on Labour’s disgraceful vote to recognise a Palestine state just rewards terrorism and it was a brilliant piece of comment.
I am not Jewish and don’t go along with everything Israel does. But, having researched the history of the Middle East, I find it disgraceful Israel is always the butt of criticism and the Arabs get a free pass.
I also think its incredible so few folk realise there never ever has been a country called Palestine and the area was a province of southern Syria until after the First World War.
People should do some homework before they start mouthing off against the only Middle East state the West can trust to defend it and democracy. Because if Israel falls, you can bet who is next on the list to be Islamized.
There but for the grace of Israel go us.
Benjamin Netanyahu might be a tough nut, but if my country was living under the constant threat of war, I would certainly prefer him in charge to a drip like Miliband

Jeff Wheeler
Cas Catala