Politicians are extremely gifted at failing up
Whether it’s the close relationships they forge with those in power, or the fact that unlike the vast majority of the population they are just very, very lucky, politicians are rarely out of a job for too long.
David Davis is a politician, somehow, who recently left his position as Brexit Secretary having had a number of highlights such as turning up to negotiations with the EU with no notes, saying that he was confident a transition agreement could be agreed with the EU despite admitting he hadn’t discussed it with chief negotiator Michel Barnier, and calling for a trade deal with zero tariffs on services despite the fact – yes you guessed it – there are already zero tariffs on services.
After such a bang up job, it’s understandable that Davis would be in high demand upon leaving his role as Secretary of the biggest fundamental change in modern British history, and that is exactly what has happened.
On Wednesday, Davis disclosed (as is his obligation as an MP) a new job with JCB – owned by Brexit-backing Anthony Bamford – which will see him act as an “external advisor”.
The disclosure regarding his remuneration reads exactly like this:
“From 1 January 2019 to 1 January 2020, external advisor to JCB, Rocester ST14 5J. I will receive £60,000 per annum, paid quarterly. Hours: approx. 20 hrs a year. I consulted ACoBA about this appointment. (Registered 10 January 2019)”
Yes. That is correct. David Davis will be earning more than twice the average industrial wage for essentially half a week’s work over the course of an entire calendar year.
Now, am I suggesting that David Davis works twice as hard as the average industrial worker over the course of a year in the 15 minutes a week he’ll be clocking in during this employment? I guess I am.
We live in a meritocracy after all. Maybe in other countries the elite classes are handed grotesque salaries that the struggling working classes could only dream of to work two minutes a day, but not in England, not in the United Kingdom.
In summation, congratulations to David Davis, a man who deserves this new job of his every bit as much as he has every other job in his employment history.
