Attacking Army & Queen, Kevin Maguire knows no shame
David T Breaker | Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | No Comments »Last night on the Sky News Paper Review the Mirror Editor Kevin “Labour Muppet” Maguire reached new lows alongside an Editor/journo from the Indy who’s name I forget. Discussing Army equipment shortages the pair were both quite certain that Gordon Brown wasn’t to blame but instead – in their contrasting “chippy northern” and “Islington liberal” tones – decided to blame the Army! “If it was so bad they should have resigned,” they agreed, advocating in effect dereliction of duty in the middle of a conflict. Then they decided to excuse the equipment shortages – “all wars are like that to begin with” – and cited World War 2 as evidence! Of course WW2 was somewhat larger in scale than Iraq/Afghanistan and most wars do not have equipment shortages to begin with – indeed this one doesn’t if you’re American! – but when you’re either delusional or just mad reality doesn’t really matter. (And come to think of it we’ve been at war for nearly 9 years so it’s hardly still “in the beginning” yet there’s still shortages!)
This morning however I notice Maguire is at it again!
Armchair generals bad-mouthing Gordon Brown sound like tinpot dictators plotting a military coup. The pensioned-off commanders are yomping into a political minefield, dangerously close to overstepping the line of acceptable criticism ahead of a General Election.
If the equipment was so bad, and young men were sent into battle without the weapons to do the job, why didn’t the chiefs do the honourable thing and resign?
Instead, the top brass enjoyed the Brideshead lifestyle on the taxpayer – with lavish dinners served by domestic staff in large houses. I listen with growing cynicism to what sounds like the armed wing of the Tory Party.
Having again insulted those who have fought for Queen and Country as “pensioned off arm chair generals” and insinuated partisan politics in their comments – the full article also has some very cheap envy politics about military pensions that I decided not to copy – he then decides to attack and insult the Queen!
The Queen stands accused of gross disloyalty to her subjects by threatening to sell off their homes. Secret files released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the Crown Estate’s “Project Blue” to flog 1,280 London houses and flats.
The properties, in Camden, Hackney, Lewisham and Pimlico, are currently let at decent rents and include “homes fit for heroes” built for returning servicemen after the First World War. Yet the documents, which I’ve read, show flunkeys more worried about making money and “reputational considerations” – flak – than the welfare of the families living in these homes.
Now, it’s possible Her Maj doesn’t know what the Palace sharp suits are doing in her name. In which case, she should get a grip. Or, if she actually wants to sell homes to a “blue-chip private landlord” which would inevitably put up rents, brace yourself, our noble Queen, for those “reputational considerations”. Because a state-subsidised multi-millionaire grandmother – who inherited Buck House, Windsor Castle and the rest – owes ordinary families a roof over their heads at affordable rents.
Now the article is an interesting case of language use for a political point. Using the words to suggest a threatening, Sheriff of Nottingham type figure – and the line “currently let at decent rents and include ‘homes fit for heroes’ built for returning servicemen after the First World War” to invoke the image of a charitable basis to the rental agreements and utilise a charity group currently in vogue (veterans) – he assassinates the character of the accused. Who doesn’t want to let homes at decent rents to heroes? That nasty “multi-millionaire…..”.
However Maguire is either ignorant or deliberately deceitful.
Google Crown Estates and their website clearly reads its purpose is “to enhance the value of the estate and the income it generates”. It is therefore not and never has been a ‘homes fit for heroes’ charitable venture as Maguire suggests, and I doubt anyone has been a tenant since 1918 either. And as Maguire mentions no figures for these “decent rates”, I’m guessing they’re in line with the market rates, it’s main objective after all being “to enhance the value of the estate and the income it generates.”
Then there’s one other thing. Maguire used his article to make attacks on the Queen, a childish character assassination from the book of envy, but the Queen doesn’t run or benefit from the Crown Estate. As their website says, “We have two main objectives: to benefit the taxpayer by paying the revenue from our assets directly to the Treasury; and to enhance the value of the estate and the income it generates.”
So it’s not the Queen who should be “accused of gross disloyalty threatening to sell off homes…currently let at decent rents and including ‘homes fit for heroes’ built for returning servicemen after the First World War, and more worried about making money and flak than the welfare of the families living in these homes” – it’s Maguire’s beloved and cash-strapped Labour Government!
Wonder if he’ll issue a correction/apology?
