Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Sorry Tale, 9 Nov 2006
Having read Andrew Hosken's book on the Dame Shirley Porter saga earlier this year, I was a bit wary of attempting another book on the subject. However, Dimoldenberg packs his story into short chapters which move forward at a good pace.
Really this book is less about Shirley Porter, and more about Dimoldenberg's struggle to uncover the disgraceful antics of the Conservative councillors and the fecklessness of the council officers. We learn a lot about how hard it is to take on a big organisation. The book left me rather depressed by public life. Those who keep their heads below the parapet tend to get gongs, those who fight to uncover corruption, suffer great stress, are treated as mad, and discover that they, too, make mistakes.
I hope Dimoldenberg gets rewarded by the Labour Party for his brave fight.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read!, 30 Oct 2006
A surprisingly easy and fast paced read of the machinations of the Westminster council in the past decade. I found the book hard to put down, but after each chapter had to take a rest to take in what had gone on so far and gird myself for the next set of events. It was a bit like reading a game of cat and mouse. This is more than a text on whistle blowing - it's basically a good read about what goes on in local politics.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terryfing tale of local government corruption, 24 Nov 2006
Even if you have read Andrew Hosken's masterpiece, you should read this book too. Whilst Mr Dimoldenberg does not have quite the same fluent story-teller abilities of a seasoned BBC journalist like Hosken, neverthelesss, because of his valiant struggles in Westminster and his insider knowledge, his book is a great read. He lays bare the full drama
of the Shirley Porter years, including her desperate attempt to hide her enormous fortune using her "businessman" son John as a conduit. It remains a complete mystery why the Conservatives have never disowned the "Dame of Shame" (John Major gave her dameship); why John Porter was never fully investigated for his role in the missing millions; and why the pusillanimous Westminster Council have not pursued more aggressively the £30 million still owed to them by their former Leader. In this Kafkaesque tail, it was whistleblower Cliff Stanford, whose evidence uncovered the money trail, and Mr Dimoldenberg, who alerted the BBC, who faced accusations and in Mr Stanford's case criminal charges. Meanwhile, Dame Shirley, having sailed the world on a luxury cruise, has bought a luxury flat in Westminster to live out her twilight years. Presumably she has checked it out for asbestos.
Reading this book about Shirley Porter is the clearest explanation you will get as to why the Tories have been out of power for nearly a decade. Perhaps hoody-hugging "Dave" Cameron will have the guts to kick Dame Shirley out of his party, strip her of her honour and join forces with the Mayor of London to get the money back?
|
|
|
|
by Andrew Hosken
by Andrew Hosken
by Andrew Simms
by Andrew Gimson
by Giles Edwards
