Jockey-wheeling for attention…..
Given the intensity of Jeremy Clarkson’s assault on the reputation of the caravan, you might have expected that the Caravan Club would need the services of a heavy weight Public Relations Outfit, and perhaps at a pinch, the ‘non-political’ services of their most famous parliamentary poster girl – Margaret Beckett MP, but it seems that the Club is a political force to be reckoned with.
They have 3 MPs on stipends of up to £10,000 a year, presumably they get Ms Beckett for free, or at least she doesn’t declare an ‘interest’. Something she would have in common with David Amess, who failed to declare his caravanning interests an improbable six times when asking pertinent questions in parliament.
ILLSLEY, Eric (Barnsley Central)
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Parliamentary adviser to the Caravan Club. (£5,001–£10,000)ÖPIK, Lembit (Montgomeryshire)
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Parliamentary adviser to the Caravan Club of Great Britain. (£5,001–£10,000)AMESS, David (Southend West)
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Parliamentary Adviser to the Caravan Club. (£5,001–£10,000)
Whilst looking into the apparently sleepy world of Formica and maroon banquettes, I discovered that no less than two Acts of Parliament had been passed of direct benefit to this Club.
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) (1963) Chapter 17
both of which provide exemptions only applicable to members of…….The Caravan Club. With 1,000,000 members and an annual turnover of £86 million, this outfit is not small fry, but there cannot be many private clubs or companies of a similar size who require 3 retained MPs to take care of their interests.
Can any political bloggers throw some light on this hotbed of lobbying?
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1
July 10, 2009 at 3:37 pm -
They are all people who have some large and wobbly behind and nothing at all upstairs.
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2
July 10, 2009 at 3:56 pm -
3
July 10, 2009 at 5:13 pm -
‘Can any political bloggers throw some light on this hotbed of lobbying?’
No
But I can tell of a mad adventure in a caravan years ago when we were invaded by thousands of ladybirds………
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4
July 10, 2009 at 5:21 pm -
5
July 10, 2009 at 5:40 pm -
Caravans burn well.
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6
July 10, 2009 at 5:48 pm -
7
July 10, 2009 at 6:14 pm -
When the working classes stopped taking caravan holidays it was the beginning of the end.
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8
July 10, 2009 at 6:31 pm -
Anna, don’t underestimate a flight of 1,000’s of ladybirds. It sounds funny, but it is actually terrifying! I talk from experience…
I have no comments on UK caravans, but if you want me to speak out on caravans in general, just ask
Glad to see your holiday address provides internet access, Saul. That should compensate for the need of marigolds.
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9
July 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm -
I was working in Barnsley at the time when Illsley was being shooed-in as a replacement for the sitting MP, Roy Mason, who had managed to wheedle a Lordship for his services to Greed and Hoonery.
Illsley at that time had never been near a caravan; he was a full-time NUM official. I have a feeling though, that one of my colleagues had done some jockey-wheeling with Illsley’s wife. This may, of course, shed some light on his current interest.
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10
July 10, 2009 at 8:11 pm -
11
July 10, 2009 at 8:28 pm -
We were in the Caravan Club in 1978-9 we had an Elddis Cyclone
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12
July 10, 2009 at 8:55 pm -
“Can any political bloggers throw some light on this hotbed of lobbying?”
The subject is irrelevant; troughing MPs just take money from any source.
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13
July 11, 2009 at 10:49 am -
When I become Prime Minister, caravanning will be outlawed.
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14
July 12, 2009 at 11:11 am -
Another example of why Mr Clarkson should be appointed president for life.
How the hell can MP’s sub themselves out like this? It is the same as cops subbing themselves out to one side of the high street for special services.
As each layer of rotten corruption is peeled back another sits stinking below.
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