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Today's Date: 23 May 2013
Last Updated: 23 May 2013 13:20:23 CIT
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Cayman’s London lobbyist cleared

The conduct issue arose after The Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom ran a story questioning how Lord Blencathra, pictured, could sit as a peer in the House of Lords, while also holding the post of director of the Cayman Islands Government’s London Office. – Photo: File

The United Kingdom Commissioner for Standards has dismissed a complaint lodged against the director of the Cayman Islands government’s London Office.  

In a 27 September letter, Commissioner Paul Kernaghan stated that Lord David Blencathra had not breached the UK Parliamentary Code of Conduct.  

The conduct issue arose after The Independent newspaper in the UK ran a story questioning how Lord Blencathra could sit as a peer in the House of Lords, while also holding the post of director of the Cayman Islands Government’s London Office. 

A complaint was issued on 17 July by UK Member of Parliament Paul Flynn.  

The commissioner dismissed the complaint after finding that Lord Blencathra was “not providing parliamentary advice or services to the Cayman Islands Government Office in the United Kingdom”. 

The text of Commissioner Kernaghan’s letter to Lord Blencathra stated that he would submit a full report to the sub-committee on Lords’ 
Conduct soon. 

 
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John Evans
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by John Evans on 10/11/2012 9:47:51 AM

No, I don't believe that happened and in fact the track record of alleged poor due diligence by the Premier in the past clearly suggests there probably were no background checks.

Which begs several questions about how he was recruited and who was involved in the process. Do you seriously believe that the Premier was the only person who made the decision to take him on? Because I surely do not.

In fact I have been given the name of another member of the Lords (which I am not revealing for legal reasons) with an interesting history in the Caribbean who might (or in fairness might not) have been involved in this decision.

As for the Mac - vs - Lord B issue. I would still say the latter is a softer target and that's based on recent discussions with two fairly senior journalists over here. They regard the good Lord's recent history as a convenient stick to beat the Cayman Islands with.

This is worth reading - http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/latest-news/mp-defends-lobbyist-claims-1-4348247

The Lynn News is my local newspaper.
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firery
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by firery on 10/10/2012 2:59:40 PM

John

Would you honestly have expected McKeeva Bush to have known that when he made the appointment ?

Or have done any type of intelligent research on the background and past political history of the man ?

If you do, which I highly doubt, then you give Cayman's premiere credit for intelligence that he simply does not possess.

In any case, McKeeva Bush himself is much more of a liability to Cayman's cause in Britain, than this Lord Blencathra aka David Maclean MP, could ever be.
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John Evans
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by John Evans on 10/10/2012 2:44:04 PM

Firery, that's exactly why Lord Blencathra (aka David Maclean MP) was a bad choice.

I am not for one minute saying he cannot do the job but he is a very soft target for anti-Cayman media and politicians.
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firery
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by firery on 10/10/2012 12:12:59 PM

Jose P

Under the Labour Party Govt., the Cayman Islands rarely, if ever, became a direct target or topic of discussion in the British Parliament, press...or general public.

But this has all changed, for a variety of reasons.

Some reasons are visible to the British public, like Commissione Baines having to request help from the Liverpool police force in criminal investigations last year...

The British press will always jump on things like this for its sensation value but these issues are quickly and easily forgotten.

The issue of Britain's economy is entirely another one altogether...and how it has been...and is currently being handled.

This is the political issue that dominates the public at this time...and if the Cayman Islands and its financial centre status can be used to fuel political leverage by one party over the other...

It will be used...and that is what is happening here with this ethics committe complaint.

The Labourites knew that it wasn't going to go anywhere...but anything to stir up trouble for the other party is legit...and quite OK.

Didn't someone once say that all is fair in love and war?

Well...they forgot to mention politics...and big business as well.
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John Evans
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by John Evans on 10/10/2012 11:53:43 AM

I remember banging heads with Paul Kernaghan when he was Chief Constable of Hampshire and was desperately trying to defend a fatally flawed speed camera programme in that county.

The problem we have in the UK is too much secret self-regulation like this in areas where public interest demands independant, public tribunals to handle these complaints.

I do not know if Lord Blencathra did anything wrong in this case but saying he was cleared of any wrong-doing by an internal investigation conducted by a retired senior police officer does not exactly impress me.

Nor do historical records relating to his days as David Maclean MP like this one -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5336359/David-Maclean-expense-claims-of-MP-who-led-fight-to-keep-payouts-secret.html
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Liverpool
Cayman's London lobbyist cleared
Posted by Liverpool on 10/10/2012 7:35:18 AM

Obviously, the UK undercurrents 'do not' want the Cayman Islands to succeed. Why is Cayman's Representative in the UK being targeted? This is not coincidence.
Cayman really need to watch your back where the UK is concerned..
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