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Has Britain been quangoed?
Are we now ruled by celebs and arts figures?
What does the phrase "British establishment" conjure up for you?
Pinstriped gents squashed into leather armchairs in smoky clubs? Retired judges and bishops prowling the corridors of the Lords, spluttering at the latest excesses of women's lib?
Pinstriped gents squashed into leather armchairs in smoky clubs? Retired judges and bishops prowling the corridors of the Lords, spluttering at the latest excesses of women's lib?
The power list: Arts |
Film maker Lord Puttnam
Architect Lord Rogers
Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg
Novelist Ken Follett
Music impresario Cameron McIntosh
|
Well, the traditional old boys' network no longer wields the power in Britain, according to right-wing think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies.
Now, it says, Tony Blair has created an entirely new elite - where Mick Hucknall holds more sway than an army major, and Carol Vorderman is more influential than a lieutenant-colonel.
Author Martin McElwee says Mr Blair has packed an ever-growing number of quangos, task forces, sub-committees and even Lords benches with his Labour-supporting chums.
And now figures from the media, showbusiness, the arts and business hold the "real reins of power".
Now, it says, Tony Blair has created an entirely new elite - where Mick Hucknall holds more sway than an army major, and Carol Vorderman is more influential than a lieutenant-colonel.
Author Martin McElwee says Mr Blair has packed an ever-growing number of quangos, task forces, sub-committees and even Lords benches with his Labour-supporting chums.
And now figures from the media, showbusiness, the arts and business hold the "real reins of power".
The power list: Showbiz/Sport |
Singer Mick Hucknall
TV presenter Carol Vorderman
Comedian Eddie Izzard
Pop singer Feargal Sharkey
Sir Alex Ferguson, Man Utd manager
|
The report says Mr Blair has about 117 particularly powerful "cronies" - like Cabinet Office minister Lord Falconer, science minister Lord Sainsbury and film maker David Puttnam.
It says they are rewarded for donations and loyalty by appearing on quango boards and committees "again and again".
Mr McElwee argues that this is more than just the usual elite of followers spawned by any government - it is a "conscious attempt to create a new class".
But Labour supporters argue that the situation is merely replacing one kind of elite with another - and BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder agrees.
"In a sense, they are just trying to redress the balance," he said.
"Don't forget that after 18 years of Conservative rule, Whitehall and a lot of these quangos were stuffed full of Tory supporters.
"I would be hard pressed to argue that it's any worse than before."
It says they are rewarded for donations and loyalty by appearing on quango boards and committees "again and again".
Mr McElwee argues that this is more than just the usual elite of followers spawned by any government - it is a "conscious attempt to create a new class".
But Labour supporters argue that the situation is merely replacing one kind of elite with another - and BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder agrees.
"In a sense, they are just trying to redress the balance," he said.
"Don't forget that after 18 years of Conservative rule, Whitehall and a lot of these quangos were stuffed full of Tory supporters.
"I would be hard pressed to argue that it's any worse than before."
The power list: Business |
BA boss Bob Ayling
Northern Foods chair Lord Haskins
Lord Sainsbury
Virgin boss Richard Branson
Tesco chief executive Terence Leahy
|
Mr McElwee argues that it is not just classic Labour supporters who are rewarded by patronage.
He says dissenters are often given positions - and he suggests this is to silence them where they would otherwise criticise.
Former Tory ministers David Mellor and Chris Patten, for example, have respective places on the football task force and European Commission. Christine Hancock, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, sits on the NHS charter advisory group.
It has not shut Ms Hancock up, though. On Friday she severely criticised a shortage of staff in NHS casualty departments.
The report also said "any sign of stepping out of line is stamped on quickly" - warning of dire consequences for anyone failing to be on-message. "Ask Lord Winston", it said.
He says dissenters are often given positions - and he suggests this is to silence them where they would otherwise criticise.
Former Tory ministers David Mellor and Chris Patten, for example, have respective places on the football task force and European Commission. Christine Hancock, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, sits on the NHS charter advisory group.
It has not shut Ms Hancock up, though. On Friday she severely criticised a shortage of staff in NHS casualty departments.
The report also said "any sign of stepping out of line is stamped on quickly" - warning of dire consequences for anyone failing to be on-message. "Ask Lord Winston", it said.
The power list: Media |
BBC Director General Greg Dyke
Planet 24 owner Lord Alli
Granada TV chairman Gerry Robinson
UN&M chief executive Lord Hollick
Former Guardian chairman Lord Gavron
|
But Lord Winston has not been completely silenced either - last month he reiterated his concern over the state of the NHS - which had led to a huge row with Labour - in a debate in the House of Lords.
There is also the risk of making an enemy out of a former crony.
Former Oasis boss Alan McGee, for example, was very chummy with Mr Blair until a few weeks ago.
He had sat on a creative task force, he had been to Chequers for tea and he had donated £100,000 to the Labour Party at the last general election.
But then Mr McGee announced he would back Malcolm McLaren for London mayor.
And on Friday Mr McGee's spokesman said he had been radicalised by the subsequent threat of expulsion from the party.
"He has even rung up the Sun and said he wanted to burn his Labour membership badge," he said.
"But actually what he'll probably do is not sign the nomination papers, stay in the Labour Party and become a complete pain in the a**e to Tony Blair."
There is also the risk of making an enemy out of a former crony.
Former Oasis boss Alan McGee, for example, was very chummy with Mr Blair until a few weeks ago.
He had sat on a creative task force, he had been to Chequers for tea and he had donated £100,000 to the Labour Party at the last general election.
But then Mr McGee announced he would back Malcolm McLaren for London mayor.
And on Friday Mr McGee's spokesman said he had been radicalised by the subsequent threat of expulsion from the party.
"He has even rung up the Sun and said he wanted to burn his Labour membership badge," he said.
"But actually what he'll probably do is not sign the nomination papers, stay in the Labour Party and become a complete pain in the a**e to Tony Blair."
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