UK plc – spreading the love (with no ministerial approval necessary)
Francis Sedgemore, Wednesday 23 February 2011 at 12:58 UTC
On reading my friend Terry Glavin’s lock-n-load essay on Saif “Sword of Islam” Gaddafi – doctoral graduate of the London School of Economics, Hampstead home owner, international playboy, finger wagging apprentice statesman and embracer of mass-murderers – and after following the news of David Cameron’s arms flogging tour, complete with a speech in Cairo Kuwait in which the prime minister waxed lyrical about the virtues of democracy and the open society, I trawled my memory with the aid of the Interwebs for stories relating to British pecuniary interests in the region.
Lo and behold, I immediately came up with a picture of Dr Gaddafi together with our very own international trade ambassador, HRH the Prince Andrew, Duke of York, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC(P), MOT. In 2009, this chinless wonder, who is fourth in line to the throne of 16 countries, including Comrade Glavin’s very own Canada, managed to secure a handsome portfolio of contracts in Libya for British firms, no doubt sweetened by such political initiatives as the granting of £146,000 of aid to help Libya improve its renowned prison system. Which is interesting when you consider that the oil producing country is ranked by the British government as “upper middle income”.
One hundred and forty-six grand is nothing when compared with the value of Gaddafi Junior’s Georgian pad in North London. So where does an academic specialising in the organisations of civil society and democratic governance find a ready £10 million in cash? It was as much as I could do to secure inflation matching annual pay rises, and pay the mortgage on a one bedroom flat in downtown Copenhagen.
Feed the writer! 
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 11:56 UTC
Yeah. Perhaps you should switch to the science of organisations of civil society. There are a lot of opportunities now in the region. Survivors are awarded quite generously.
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 13:29 UTC
And which did you say was the useless over privileged parasite?
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 13:36 UTC
I assume that the subject of Son of Moomar’s PhD is a case of “know your enemy”.
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 13:38 UTC
As for over-privileged parasites, it’s a highly competitive world in which we live. God Bless Capitalism!
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 14:58 UTC
All pales in comparison to the relationship between Gaddafi and Berlusconi though:
Thursday 24 February 2011 at 18:19 UTC
Yes, but the whole world and his dog knows that Berlusconi is a crook. Andrew Windsor-Saxe-Coburg-und-Gotha, on the other hand, is still regarded in some circles as a gentleman.
Friday 25 February 2011 at 09:21 UTC
True, but there is not just crookery at play there, Berlusconi really likes Gaddafi’s personality.
Friday 25 February 2011 at 12:35 UTC
Sod Berlusconi; Gaddafi’s personality would make the tented one an excellent zoo exhibit.
Sunday 27 February 2011 at 14:37 UTC
Thus spake Saif al-Islam Gaddafi following a UN Security Council vote for an arms embargo and asset freeze on the Libyan government and Gaddafi family.
Friday 4 March 2011 at 23:21 UTC
[...] has written to the government agency UK Trade & Investment, to complain about the behaviour of Prince Andrew, Britain’s dysfunctional and ungentlemanly trade ambassador. Republic’s missive details a [...]