May 23, 2009

From the latest Private Eye:

"Sir Fred Goodwin should not count on being £650,000 a year better off. It's a huge amount of money for nothing. The Prime Minister has made it clear that it is unacceptable and the government will take action."

[Interviewer]: "But what action can the government take? Sir Fred has said that it's his contractual right."

"I don't want to go into all the details of what methods might be taken. But Sir Fred should not be counting on this. It might be enforceable in a court of law, but it is not acceptable in the court of public opinion, and that's where the government steps in."

Harriet Harperson, interviewed on the BBC, March 1.

"People have claimed in good faith under the system. MPs make the claim under the system and it's for the House of Commons fees office to decide whether it comes within the rules. MPs make their claims under the rules and the money is paid out only if they are satisfied that the claim is within the rules."

Harriet Harperson, interviewed on the BBC, May 8