The devil in it is than one of the two major parties, most likely the Tories, might well be ahead in a majority of seats on the first count and would have won the election on first-past-the-post, but be ousted by Labour forming either a majority government on its own, or a coalition with the bulk of the LibDems and/or the nationalists.

The well-paid jobs of these big charities provided periods of ready remuneration for those leaving office when their political fortunes changed or their public-sector careers dipped. Some were so grand they even enlisted financial services consulting firms to advise them on executive pay. Public-sector salaries rose hugely, and those of charities covertly tracked them. The honours system also did its bit peers and dames, knights and CBEs proliferated. It would be fun to publish a charity Rich List.

I fear that a_brit_abroad is not quite up to debate on this site and should find somewhere less demanding.The setbacks are likely to put further pressure on the veteran Conservative minister Mr Clarke, who is resisting attempts to be moved from his Cabinet post in the forthcoming reshuffle.

image via Ecoult

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