Ain't so tough at the toff, George
GEORGE Osborne has behaved like an arrogant fool who'd become so cocky, so sure he was going to be the next Chancellor he thought he could get away with swanning around Corfu on a Russian billionaire's yacht.
But he's not alone in his arrogance or his insensitivity. Because the truth is politicians-Tory and Labour- don't have the vaguest idea how the rest of us live. And care even less.
Oh, they pretend to. They empathise, they sympathise, they go to council estates and press the flesh.
With kind eyes and faux sincerity they tell people they understand the fact they have no jobs, no house, no quality of life. But, of course, they don't.
So mired are they in wealth, privilege and power they've forgotten that what they pay for a meal in a posh London restaurant is more than most working-class families spend on food in a week.
They've forgotten that the cost of one of their Savile Row suits is the same as most people's monthly mortgage payment. They forget about us and our needs the minute they hit the hallowed halls of Westminster.
Because suddenly they have power. They're mixing with the rich, the famous and the influential. They eat at the best restaurants, drink the finest wines. Financiers seek their company, heads of industry want them in their homes and at their dining tables.
They go on fact-finding missions to the Maldives at the taxpayers' expense, all the while kidding themselves it's for the good of the people they represent.
They get to fly in private jets, holiday at the Caribbean villas of their rich contacts, and they're privy to the kind of secrets that can change the world. And even though most politicians may start their careers with the best of intentions, it doesn't take long-for some of them-to forget why they went into the job in the first place.
In the end they don't want to stick their necks out for the voters, for fear of losing their job-and everything that goes with it.
They're scared to tell us the truth (about anything) in case it goes against the party line. In the name of personal power they sell out-their principles, their beliefs, the people they represent and ultimately their souls.
And this Labour government boasts the worst offenders. Many came from nothing and see that power and politics is their ticket to the Big Time. So with greedy, grubby little hands they grab everything that comes their way- the freebies, the invitations, the holidays. Even though many of them earn upwards of £100,000 a year, they always feel hard done-by because being surrounded by extravagance and wealth makes them believe they're actually entitled to it.
And that's how they lose touch with us. The thread that initially tied them to us frays and then snaps as the free lunches and champagne parties cause their greed and egomania to explode.
Living in THAT world, how can they know what it's like for a family terrified their ten-year-old car will conk out this winter when there's no money to fix it?
How can they understand the helplessness of people when the boiler breaks down or a pipe bursts when there's no money spare to put it right? How can they grasp the sense of failure parents feel when they can't afford to buy clothes or books or treats for their kids?
How can they know what it's like to lose their home when most of them have two-one of which is invariably funded by the taxpayer? And it doesn't matter whether they were born rich or poor. The rich ones like Osborne and Cameron have never known a moment's hardship and so will never understand it-no matter how much they might want to.
The poor ones have known it-and will bust a gut to ensure they never go back there.
That's why we don't trust politicians any more. It's why when we hear stories about Osborne sunning himself on some billionaire's yacht we're not surprised. Nor are we surprised Lord Mandelson enjoys the company of rich businessmen- much more even than Mr Osborne.
It's no less than we expect of these people who, whatever else they do, are supposed to have OUR best interests at heart.
Only many of them don't. Many of them, if they were honest, would have to admit they stay in the rich, privileged world of politics not because it's good for us-but because it's good for them.
PETER Mandelson says he's now the Tories No. 1 hate figure. He also says Labour will win the next election now he's back. Doesn't this fool realise its not just the Tories who hate him? We ALL do.
Never has a politician been so universally despised-not just by politicians and the media but by every hard-working Joe Public who sees this spiteful liar is not just greedy and self-serving but a disgrace to both his office and his party.
As for winning the next election- Mandelson's return is the single biggest reason NOT to vote Labour. He's been back in office for two weeks and already he's up to his eyeballs in sleaze.
I doubt he'll still have his job by the next election-let alone be in a position to help win it.
Croft's wide of the mark
IT'S a bit rich for Kerry Katona's husband Mark Croft to attack Phil Schofield for "stitching up" his wife on screen.
Croft is the one who allowed Ms Katona to set off for a TV studio while slurring and barely able to talk. He's the one who led her on to the studio floor knowing that they had spent the whole weekend on a drink and drugs bender.
After This Morning's interview, in which Kerry was gently questioned about her drinking, Croft had to be restrained from punching out Schofield.
Fact! Kerry Katona knew she was going on TV. So why go out the night before and neck countless Sambuca shorts? And why blame everyone else for the fool she made of herself? Incidentally, anyone who believes last week's shambolic performance was solely down to the prescription drugs she takes for bipolar disorder is as daft as she is. Prescription drugs-laced with cocaine and a tequila shot, maybe.
Fern Britton and Phil Schofield are not responsible for Kerry's welfare. They could have destroyed her on that show-but they didn't. However, the people who constantly step in to protect her public image-not to mention that caring husband of hers, who admitted on national TV he actually has sex with his wife while she's sleeping-are letting her down.
Kerry has been given countless chances to sort out her life but still she's boozing heavily and back on drugs.
She has no talent, yet, courtesy of Iceland, OK! magazine and now MTV, who have helped remodel her body without ever taking into account what's happening to her mind-she lives a life of protected luxury.
But still she seems determined to trash it, not realising that when Iceland and OK! can no longer tolerate her behaviour, she'll end up like her drug- addicted mum Sue, living off the state in some crummy house with her husband long gone.
I feel sorry for Kerry Katona-she's lost. But I don't want to see her car crash of a life played out on my TV. And I'm not interested in anything she has to say.
So if there IS anyone left out there who still cares about her, she needs their help right now-before it's too late.
Truckin' Lunatic
DAVID and Michelle Statham and their four children perished in a fireball on the M6, having been rammed from behind by Portuguese lorry driver Jorge Nogueira De Silva.
Their deaths were hideous, horrifying and totally avoidable.
I was on the M27 this week, thinking about how tragedies like this happen, when I saw him-a lorry driver with a mobile phone to his ear.
In his other hand he was clutching a sandwich and his elbow was resting on the steering wheel.
Oh, and did I mention he was doing 90mph?
So one elbow was controlling a 10-ton articulated lorry.
If we had more police officers patrolling motorways and fewer speed cameras, idiots like the one I saw on the M27 would be in jail by now and the Stathams might still be alive.
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This article has 21 comments
Carol always articulates what I want to say.She has a platform to the country and I sincerely hope that she continues to highlight the politicians and crooks(one and the same?)who try and con the decent working people of our country.More grease to your elbow Carol!
By Ian Summers.. Posted November 16 2008 at 1:59 PM.
Totally agree with Carol, in regard to politicians. I would go further though and say that politicians are not a product of society in general but are a product only, of elite cliques within society, that select them in the first place as potential MP's.
And that is the greatest problem that we have, i.e . elite cliques within society controlling the majority of society, through putting up these utter nobodies for us to choose from,in order to
to have a democraticlly????? elected government!
By Dave.. Posted November 9 2008 at 1:02 PM.
Where can I get one of these 90mph 10 tonne HGV's? I warrant its probably a Mclaren F1 limited edition HGV.
By John Theis.. Posted November 9 2008 at 12:16 AM.
well done for saying what we all think.
love your column,look forward to reading it
every week.
By j.harrington.. Posted November 5 2008 at 3:20 PM.
I feel extremely sorry for the family of those who were killed on the motorway. But some of the responsibility has to be directed to those in charge of motorways; perhaps if the motorway had not been closed and traffic had been allowed to filter past the original accident, this dreadful episode may not have happened. It seems that any accident on a motorway and the first inclination is to close it. This never used to be the case.
By Eric Almand.. Posted October 27 2008 at 9:00 PM.
If carole malone can spout off rubbish about the 10 tonne artic doing 90 then maybe she ought to do more research and get her facts right.The crash on the M6 was a terrible event but you dont know what happened and the driver has yet to be tried.And dont brand all lorry drivers as speeding lunatics.
By Alan Rockley.. Posted October 27 2008 at 6:21 PM.
perhaps louise in newcastle would like to point out whos companies truck will hit 90mph, i think they may stand out on the motorway eh, as for braindead carole, exactly how fast were you going to get alongside a truck doing 90mph?? perhaps get some facts right once in a while, its little wonder i dont bother buying rubbish like your paper (i was given a link from a professional drivers forum to this) yes what happened on the m6 was a tragedy, but has the driver ben prosecuted yet for causing it? what happened to innocent until proven guilty, there are plenty of terrible dangerous people in cars
By mat.. Posted October 27 2008 at 4:14 PM.
Carole Malone's comments regarding sleaze and politicians really hit the mark. If any poll could be taken, we would probably find 97% of the population agree with them, but we have a catch 22 situation in that, the only people who can make the necessary changes to stop this abuse, are those who are taking the biggest slices out of the gravy train pie.
I'm not sure anything can get through to these hogs, but one suggestion may be for some like minded columnists from a wide range of the national dailys, to agree a short questionaire for their broad range of readers across the nation, as to what priorities they think politicians should demonstrate.
By George Owens.. Posted October 27 2008 at 10:27 AM.
I would like to say that some lorry drivers are bad drivers but there are twice as many bad car drivers,especially on motorways,all these middle lane hoggers are absolutely stupid,they sit in the middle lane unaware of what is going on around them. if all lorries drove in the middle lane same as those idiots do the motorways would be at a standstill all the time. OH and by the way all lorries weighing 7 and a half tons and above from the year 2001 are restricted to 56 MPH. I have seen car drivers eating using mobile phones putting on make up reading magazines writing things on paper all this at 60 and 70 miles an hour.
By christopher varnam.. Posted October 27 2008 at 7:04 AM.
Dear Carole,
I think you have spoken for the majority of the people in this country regarding politicians, they live a life so far from normal everyday people, you cannot help but feel that they have entered politics purely for their own gains.I have been a life long labour supporter but this is a party i feel i could not vote for again, but i have to say the tories offer less. The days of politicians standing by their principles have gone.I would also question what did Lord Mandleson do to earn his title?....
By Janet Sullivan.. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:22 PM.
Quote from department of transport, in 2007, there were 21 LGV accidents for every 100 million vkm travelled. the corresponding value for HGV. This compares to 62 for all motor vechicles. This just proves that HGV drivers are the safest on britains roads.
By Ian Holmes.. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:56 PM.
hi. carole malones column is spot on . shame the politicians wont read it, if they did they would not care. god help us if mr cameron becomes prime minister, he is as wet as they come. what we need is more people with common sense to run the country. lets ditch the brains who tell us what we have known for weeks
By dave burden.. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:33 PM.
Excellent column, thank goodness you have the bottle to tell it as it.
It makes the NOTW A GREAT READ.
By bill angus.. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:07 PM.
Re Trucking Lunatic:
Er um why were you doing 90 do you not know the speed limit is 70 on a motor way .........
Must have been a real small artic
Thats if you know what an artic is
Fact the weight of most tractor units alone weigh 7ton's the trailer of most artics weigh in the region of 7 tons eh 7+7 = 14 well it did when I went to school so Ms your 4 ton light
As a profesional Truck driver I can show you more bad drivers than you could afford penny sweets
Starters for 1 look in a mirror
By Adrian Nicholas.. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:41 PM.
Carole's remarks regarding Kerry Katona are spot on.How Iceland can still use her in adverts is beyond my comprehension.I know this, I will not be shopping there again,nor will a lot of other people I would imagine.
By Alan.. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:58 AM.
In response to Geoff, yes at one time articulated lorries would struggle to get to 60 but that is not the case anymore- I'm a Class1 HGV driver and I have driven artics which are faster than some people's cars and, especially on a motorway- 90mph is not a problem. And Carol was only guessing at the 10 ton so don't be so picky, you know what she meant! Not defending that driver are you?!
By Louise from Newcastle.. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:10 AM.
The press bratpack have sunk their teeth into George - Mandleson's two faces must be really laughing.
It's Lord Greedy-Nasty Himself that you lot should be getting your teeth into - and the corrupt greed-ridden cesspit that is nulabour.
By ROGER.. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:19 AM.
you got it spot on about polotics.pity you could not have put it on banner headlines front page and let everybody realise what they really are like
By william lang.. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:22 AM.
Carole is right. On a recent coach trip along the M1, I was amazed at the antics within HGV cabs. Among the stupid acts were drivers on mobiles, eating sandwiches, reading magazines, the majority with only one hand on the steering wheel,and incredibly, one using his foot to steer the lorry whilst reclining in his seat. It's hardly surprising then that as soon as a problem arises these irresponsible fools fail to respond.
By Mick.. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:48 AM.
I was on the M25 a couple of weeks ago when a foreign lorry driver was harrassing a small car driver who must have been terrified. The lorry was just about on the car's bumper. The car could not move over as to do so would have meant getting off at a junction he did not want. The lorry driver eventually moved to the next lane and did exactly the same to another car driver who could move over. Had I been able to memorise the foreign name on the side I would have phoned the police and reported the lorry driver for dangerous driving.
By Maureen Nash.. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:20 AM.
Articulated lorries barely do 60mph. And where did you get "10-ton articulated lorry" from. Wouldn't be worth having if it was only 10 ton
By geoff.. Posted October 26 2008 at 3:43 AM.