What Blair's free holidays are worth

Britannist · 01-01-2007, 02:56 AM

Today’s Daily Mail reports “A decade of 'freebie' holidays in the homes of the rich and famous would have cost ‘Tony’ Blair an extraordinary £775,000, according to a new analysis. Mr. Blair or his family have enjoyed at least 15 luxury holidays at the private homes of wealthy businessmen, politicians and pop stars”. :x :evil:

There’s more at :shock: :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

arden forester · 01-01-2007, 11:20 AM

My view on this is that the Daily Mail is getting into a hissy fit about all this. I don't care one jot for Blair's policies (he has no vision or political convictions, it seems) and I think he is prone to being sleazy. However, the Mail is insinuating that all these holidays are being "cadged".

I don't see how any Prime Minister could go on a Thomson holiday. I do think politicians are entitled to holidays, whoever they are. If Blair said to Robin Gibb "I'm a huge fan, Robin, I think you're great. You know that pile in Florida? Is it, well, er, are you going to be there New Year?" then I think it might be a bit cheesy. But if they are friends, and we are told they are, then I think that's between them.

How many Daily Mail journalists have stayed at friends' houses and proffered large sums of cash to the bemused host. If I said a friend could stay at a place I owned, I hope I would not be handing them a bill for services rendered!

The Mail says it costs £775,000. Well, if you put it all on a commercial basis and take the security detail into account, then yes. However, the thought of the Blairs on a package holiday with no protection is crazy. What would the cheesy hacks at the Mail say if he got popped off.

They've got an answer for everything it seems. How about the editor coming clean with his visits to his mates? Bet there's something there! :roll:

freedom & democracy 4 · 01-01-2007, 11:24 AM

There was a 2 page spread in the sun newspaper earlier in the week, it showed all the famous peoples homes Blair had been on hoilday to, and how much each trip cost the taxpayer, i will try and find a link.

Hartlepool · 01-01-2007, 02:25 PM

Todays Daily Mail also has a breakdown as well.

arden forester · 01-01-2007, 03:31 PM

Having said what I said, I think he would have been better off doing a Harold Wilson. The Scilly Isles would be the best place for him! :tumble:
If he had any political nouse, he would not be so defiant in these holidays. All talk of giving money to charity. It's sanctimonious humbug. He should take quiet holidays away from the maddening crowd, with his security detail, and just tell his close pals (?) on his return!

01-01-2007, 02:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	What Blair's free holidays are worth - figure revealed Today’s Daily Mail reports “A decade of 'freebie' holidays in the homes of the rich and famous would have cost ‘Tony’ Blair an extraordinary £775,000, according to a new analysis. Mr. Blair or his family have enjoyed at least 15 luxury holidays at the private homes of wealthy businessmen, politicians and pop stars”. :x :evil: There’s more at :shock: : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

01-01-2007, 03:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,659 Party: None	Having said what I said, I think he would have been better off doing a Harold Wilson. The Scilly Isles would be the best place for him! :tumble: If he had any political nouse, he would not be so defiant in these holidays. All talk of giving money to charity. It's sanctimonious humbug. He should take quiet holidays away from the maddening crowd, with his security detail, and just tell his close pals (?) on his return! __________________ www.ardenforester.blogspot.com www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

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01-01-2007, 11:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,659 Party: None	My view on this is that the Daily Mail is getting into a hissy fit about all this. I don't care one jot for Blair's policies (he has no vision or political convictions, it seems) and I think he is prone to being sleazy. However, the Mail is insinuating that all these holidays are being "cadged". I don't see how any Prime Minister could go on a Thomson holiday. I do think politicians are entitled to holidays, whoever they are. If Blair said to Robin Gibb "I'm a huge fan, Robin, I think you're great. You know that pile in Florida? Is it, well, er, are you going to be there New Year?" then I think it might be a bit cheesy. But if they are friends, and we are told they are, then I think that's between them. How many Daily Mail journalists have stayed at friends' houses and proffered large sums of cash to the bemused host. If I said a friend could stay at a place I owned, I hope I would not be handing them a bill for services rendered! The Mail says it costs £775,000. Well, if you put it all on a commercial basis and take the security detail into account, then yes. However, the thought of the Blairs on a package holiday with no protection is crazy. What would the cheesy hacks at the Mail say if he got popped off. They've got an answer for everything it seems. How about the editor coming clean with his visits to his mates? Bet there's something there! :roll:

01-01-2007, 11:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
freedom & democracy 4 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Emsworth, full of the EU's Polish imports! Posts: 209	There was a 2 page spread in the sun newspaper earlier in the week, it showed all the famous peoples homes Blair had been on hoilday to, and how much each trip cost the taxpayer, i will try and find a link.

01-01-2007, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hartlepool Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North East England Posts: 6,645 Party: Other	Todays Daily Mail also has a breakdown as well.