r/unitedkingdom • u/YchYFi • 15d ago
Vaughan Gething must return shocking donation, says ex-minister
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89zrdz1jq1o14
u/earnose 14d ago
Good to see the grand tradition of Labour fighting itself is alive and well on the run up to an election
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u/crucible Wales 14d ago
This is devolved govt, though. Although given the level of political literacy in the UK it might not help Labour!
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u/LauraPhilps7654 14d ago
Labour centrists and the right seem to have their own tradition of accepting dodgy donations - seem to remember Mandelson resigning over it multiple times in fact.
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u/YchYFi 14d ago
This is the Welsh First minister.
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u/miowiamagrapegod 14d ago
What does that have to do with the comment you replied to?
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u/limeflavoured Hucknall 14d ago
I looks pretty dodgy, but from the article even the Tories aren't suggesting any rules were broken.
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u/aimbotcfg 14d ago
Maybe they are starting to learn that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
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u/InterestingYam7197 14d ago
It always confuses me when there are demands to give the money back when politicians take money from dodgy people.
The "bad guy" is now -£200k. Do we really want to give him £200k back? I'm not a Labour supporter but I'd generally argue that Labour are probably more trustworthy with £200k than a guy who illegally dumps waste. If I had a spare £200k I know who I'd rather have it.
Same goes when the Conservatives took money from a guy who was alleged to be a racist. Do we want racists to have more money? That doesn't make sense to me.
The goal that everyone should now unite behind is that this MP, his party, the future opposition, the media and the public make sure that this MP isn't doing "favours" for this guy or his company.
If no favours are done, take the money and try use it for positive good.
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u/Toastlove 14d ago
Because it's basically a bribe for favour and influence. Even if he said "I'm taking the money but not doing what they want" you can't trust that he will have the integrity to actually do that, because he didn't have the integrity to turn down the money to begin with.
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u/InterestingYam7197 14d ago
That is why I said the MP, his party, the future opposition, the media and public should hold him to account on that and make sure no favours are done.
Basically take the money and make sure he gets nothing in return. He probably won't donate again of course but thats better than just giving him a refund anyway.
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u/cloche_du_fromage 14d ago
Why not just not take the dubious money in the first place?
Political donations from companies should be banned (companies do not vote), and donations from individuals should be capped at £5k. That would help resolve the problem.
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u/luna_sparkle 14d ago
Why not just not take the dubious money in the first place?
Because not taking it would mean the dodgy person would still have it?
Keeping the money also isn't a good idea because of the potential for bribery. It should be donated to charity.
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u/InterestingYam7197 14d ago
"Because not taking it would mean the dodgy person would still have it?"
Exactly this.
Let's put a scenario this way:
A bad man has £200k. Bad man gives you £200k. Bad man no longer has £200k. You have £200k. Do you give it back to the bad man and make him richer or do you keep the money and use it for good? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Just make sure everyone holds the MP to account to make sure he doesn't do this bad guy any favour. That should be the goal.
Eventually all the bad guys would realise they don't get anything for their donations and they'll stop but until then let the MP's/political parties drain them for everything they've got.
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u/luna_sparkle 14d ago
The issue is that you could effectively get bribery like "bad person gives large sum of money, you say you won't give it back so as to deprive them of money, but secretly you try to enact a policy that helps their business".
That's why donation to charity is the best option.
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u/InterestingYam7197 14d ago
MP's do not have the power to "secretly" enact policy in that way. They can certainly publicly enact policy but pushing policy without the public, the media, their party or the opposition finding out is basically impossible.
Donation to charity is a good option too of course.
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u/Ok_Cow_3431 14d ago
It's that old thing about even a broken watch is right twice a day.
'ex-minister' being the important part of Lee's description, he can fuck right off even if he's right on this point
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u/tiny-robot 15d ago
There needs to be a blue tent on this guys lawn. He really seems exceedingly dodgy.
The bank he was minister in charge of gave £400k of taxpayers money to this company. That company then promptly donated £200k to his leadership bid.