Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Varche]

I know corruption and bribery to win contracts isn't right, particularly with a country closely aligned to terrorism. I suspect many other EU countries do or would do the same to secure big contracts but probably hide the trail better.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6729489.stm

The difference is that only Britain would out the company and risk future contracts and thousands and thousands of jobs etc etc. Sadly it is symptomatic of many problems facing Britain.

v

[Nickbat]

I am minded to agree with you, Varche.

Taking the moral high ground is all very well, but everyone knew that this practice was rife at the time. Better to just have a quiet word with BAE and let the matter drop. The public at large don't really care that much and, let's face it, what's done is done.

However, the moralists will have their way and fine BAE huge sums and, as you say, cause great damage to the company and, inevitably, job losses.

But that's holier-than-thou Britain for you.     

[Dishevelled Den]

The nett result of living in a country which has lost its sense of national identity and governed by a spineless bunch that has put too much emphasis on the theoretical at the expense of the practical, I would suggest.

It's impossible to be all things to all people but due to the inextricable link with Brussels we now have that seems to be the desire of this, and of recent Administrations.

Rather than bend over and brace for the inevitable, perhaps we should grow a pair and inform others that our national interest comes first.

[Varche]

Zulu - interesting sentiment but I don't think you can blame it on Brussels!

The Spanish, French and Germans have all kept their national ID's and are proud of it but have still embraced the EU. No this problem is firmly a British one. The sad fact is that the Brits lost their British ID. Years and years of avid consuming of anything "foreign" at the expense of buying British first. Ye reap what ye sow.

V

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The nett result of living in a country which has lost its sense of national identity and governed by a spineless bunch that has put too much emphasis on the theoretical at the expense of the practical, I would suggest.

It's impossible to be all things to all people but due to the inextricable link with Brussels we now have that seems to be the desire of this, and of recent Administrations.

Rather than bend over and brace for the inevitable, perhaps we should grow a pair and inform others that our national interest comes first.

Are we still on the subject of Eton.........or have we moved on to some other  topic of conversation?...Zulu.

[Dishevelled Den]

The nett result of living in a country which has lost its sense of national identity and governed by a spineless bunch that has put too much emphasis on the theoretical at the expense of the practical, I would suggest.

It's impossible to be all things to all people but due to the inextricable link with Brussels we now have that seems to be the desire of this, and of recent Administrations.

Rather than bend over and brace for the inevitable, perhaps we should grow a pair and inform others that our national interest comes first.

Are we still on the subject of Eton.........or have we moved on to some other  topic of conversation?...Zulu. ::)

  splendid 

[Dishevelled Den]

Zulu - interesting sentiment but I don't think you can blame it on Brussels!

The Spanish, French and Germans have all kept their national ID's and are proud of it but have still embraced the EU. No this problem is firmly a British one. The sad fact is that the Brits lost their British ID. Years and years of avid consuming of anything "foreign" at the expense of buying British first. Ye reap what ye sow.

V

Whilst I agree the vast majority of what you say V, especially about reaping that which is sown I still feel that Brussels is providing the honey-pot for even greater harmonisation.  It also seems to have a voracious appetite when it comes to collecting new signatories to the Treaty ratification.

Should the Republic of Ireland capitulate in their coming referendum then the scene is set for the UK to sign up as well - without the consent of the voting public I might add – leaving A Blair to assume the Presidency.

This can only be the start of a 'super state' where national identity will come second to that of the EU.

I think the full ramifications of this will only become apparent when all these factors fall into place.

[TheBoy]

I think it demonstrates, as I've banged on about before, that the current regime really doesn't want any manufacturing in this country.

[Martin_1962]

Shut down SFO not BAe

[Martin_1962]

Oh and the minister responsible is Mrs Scotland - the one done by her own law on employing immigrants

[Banjax]

just to be clear here - you're all condoning bribery and corruption yes?

must make a mental note for future reference 


at the risk of sounding a tad xenophobic - isn't the fact that most countries would turn a blind eye to this, and we don't, part of what makes us Great? that British sense of justice and fair play renowned throughout the world?

[Kevin Wood]

just to be clear here - you're all condoning bribery and corruption yes?

must make a mental note for future reference 

That's par for the course in the defence industry. 

Shame, because it must be one of the few industries that are actually helping drag us out of the mire at the moment.

Kevin

[Martin_1962]

just to be clear here - you're all condoning bribery and corruption yes?

must make a mental note for future reference 

Better that BAe does it than say EADS or Boeing, or the Chinese.

I am sure the Saudis would now be purchasing French aircraft rather than Eurofighters if the SFO were not called off last time

[Banjax]

in my view the whole defence industry is a house of cards anyway - completely funded by taxpayer, its almost the perfect socialist industry 

you see we sell all these weapons to the people who want them (despots, dictators, unsavoury regimes) this is fine - i get that, we make weapons that bad people buy - thats completely logical. what happens when BAE supply these countries is they dont pay up!!! they dont pay up because we operate a tax-payer payment guarantee scheme - this means that BAE say to the government - these guys havent paid us, the government then gives them the money!!!! now do you think these despots and dictators know full well this is the case? do you think BAE knows this is the case and, with a nudge and a wink secures contracts? - the bad guys dont pay up (they're the bad guys, remember?) dont worry bad guys - the british axpayer foots the bill, we get the contract and hence the money - you get the shiny new weapons - everyones a winner 


except the taxpayer.....and here was me thinking we were all capitalists.........

[Nickbat]

in my view the whole defence industry is a house of cards anyway - completely funded by taxpayer, its almost the perfect socialist industry 

you see we sell all these weapons to the people who want them (despots, dictators, unsavoury regimes) this is fine - i get that, we make weapons that bad people buy - thats completely logical. what happens when BAE supply these countries is they dont pay up!!! they dont pay up because we operate a tax-payer payment guarantee scheme - this means that BAE say to the government - these guys havent paid us, the government then gives them the money!!!! now do you think these despots and dictators know full well this is the case? do you think BAE knows this is the case and, with a nudge and a wink secures contracts? - the bad guys dont pay up (they're the bad guys, remember?) dont worry bad guys - the british axpayer foots the bill, we get the contract and hence the money - you get the shiny new weapons - everyones a winner 


except the taxpayer.....and here was me thinking we were all capitalists.........

How many countries have defaulted on payments, then? Got any links?