Liam Fox translation service

[David Johnson]

Atlantic Bridge was affiliated to a American lobbying group funded by the likes of Exxon Mobil and tobacco manufacturing giant, Philip Morris, called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

This is the perspective from the States side of the equation

http://thebluestates.wordpress.com/2011 ... -brothers/

I draw your attention to
"Each year, close to 1,000 bills, based at least in part on ALEC model legislation, are introduced in the states. Of these, an average of 20% become law.? One of its biggest supporters is the Koch Foundation, whose founders, the oil barons Charles G Koch and David H Koch, have funnelled about $55 million to climate-denial front groups and are generous donors to the Tea Party movement. "

"ThinkProgress has covered ALEC for years, and what we have found closely resembles the pay-to-play allegations against Atlantic Bridge. Our investigations helped expose the fact that health insurance lobbyists used ALEC to write anti-health reform legislation, that Koch Industries and coal lobbyists had used ALEC to kill clean energy programs,"

"Speaking at a 2008 ALEC conference in Chicago, Fox said, ?we at Atlantic Bridge have been delighted at the success of our partnership with ALEC and we?re excited about what we might achieve together in the future.? ?In particular,? he added, ?we are patting ourselves on the back at having chosen such a disguised and solid values-based organization to be our partner because the values that you have need to be embedded at every level of government ? not just national or federal government".

So the real game in town is to follow the dosh and see what level of influence on UK government policy making that having an organisation like Atlantic Bridge with an advisory board of the likes of George Osborne, Chris Grayling, William Hague and Michael Gove with close links to ALEC has actually had.

CHeers
D

[Gusset Sniffer]

These fucking lobbyists should be banned from party conferences. I'm pissed right off now!

I agree with mrmcfister they are all cunts!

[Jonone]

He's a narcissist.

[jimslip]

Guess under which government the act of mass lobbying went mad? Have a look at this ancient article from the Independant in 1999 and you will see how 11 years later even after having got shot of NL, these bastards are virtually running the country.

[David Johnson]

Yes, there were loads of lobbyists under the Labour government. This is true. No question.

As no doubt there were under Thatcher. Having a wonderful time over privatisation, explaining how privatisation would make everything so much more efficient and cheaper for the consumer compared to all those nasty, lazy, public sector workers who were in, wait for it, trade unions!!!! Urgh!

I suspect Jim, you praise Margaret Thatcher just as I do every time I open my quarterly gas bill. How efficient, how streamlined, how cost-effective. What a whizzo idea.

CHeers
D

[Gusset Sniffer]

Yes, I see that. Maybe only party members and press should be allowed to attend party conferences???

[steve56]

What is he a Dr of?