Tuesday
Oct132015
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill Yeo sueshi
The BBC is reporting that Tim Yeo is going to sue the Sunday Times over its 2013 allegation that he was influence peddling for green companies.
I can't see this ending well.
Reader Comments (52)
I'm sure he can bring forth the sword of truth and the trusty shield of English fair play to the hearing.
Or is it the other way round?
I'm sure it'll end very well. For us and the Sunday Times.
There is something in the depths of my murky mind that is telling me that yeo may have tried this once before although more likely another idiot.
On both sides of the Pond, warmists are attempting to use the law to stifle sceptic opposition to their pseudo-science. In the US it's all going very wrong for them and I see no reason why Mr. Yeo's suit should not likewise shine the light into murky corners of European climate activism that it would be in their own interests to keep dark. At the very least, Timmy will have to provide audit-able accounts of his financial dealings while an MP. I'm running out of cupboard-space for the popcorn.
Why has it taken him two years to bring a complaint?
The MP, who served as an environment minister in John Major’s government, has earned about £400,000 from consulting work for various green companies.He also has shares and options worth about £583,000 in low-carbon firms that have employed him.
By way of illustration, he told them how he had advised John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, before the executive gave evidence to the committee last month.
"Mr Yeo is a paid director and shareholder of Eurotunnel, the firm’s parent company. He told the reporters: ‘I was able to tell him in advance what he should say.’"
Finding wiggle room he clarified the conversation...
'What happened was I travelled with the person concerned in the company of two other people, five days before his appearance before the committee, in a train.
'During that conversation I spoke very briefly to him about his forthcoming appearance in front of the committee so I could explain to him that because of the business connection between us, which of course was properly declared and registered, I wouldn’t take part in questioning.'
A question you will not see asked on the BBC...
Mr. Yeo, you were filmed bragging about preparing a business colleague before he appeared in front of your committee when you said ‘I was able to tell him in advance what he should say.’ now you are saying you told him you could not take part in questioning, were you lying then or are you lying now?
His lawyers threatened to sue me as well.
Fortunately I do not have deep pockets, so it probably wasn't worth their while.
It will end well for the lawyers - it always does !!
Unfortunately, greenery has a special exemption from normal levels of distrust, in the same way charity and religion have been good shields for financial corruption and sex abuse. Because those issues are considered nice and honourable, people expect those within those fields to be nice and honourable. It takes a lot for people to give up their preconceptions and see that someone who acts like a crook is a crook no matter what field they work in. For fields like fossil fuels and banking the opposite is likely to be true and those connected are considered guilty until proven innocent.
It's generally considered a bad thing for MPs to have financial ties to the fields they are responsible for. I suspect that concern gets very blurry when 'nice' fields are concerned. A politician would have to be very dodgy in order to be found wanting.
Hmm, if this goes in favour of Yeo questions will need to be asked about the impartiality of the judge, who will be dealing with an issue involving solar energy, which we now know is a subject that can generate enough religious fervour to turn some in the legal profession into advocates. Would the outcome have been the same if the journalists had been posing as arms manufacturers?
It would be of interest to know what input, if any, Old Jug Ears pal Lord Carnwath had here.
It's great being a conspiracy theorist (I love it!).
His character witnesses are Chris Huhne and Jeffrey Archer.
He has been "exonorated" by some committee or other, has he not? Probably felt emboldened by it. Murdoch Press vs Yeo? Dirty Laundry? What is not to like?
Great headline! :-)
Is that video clip still around? Says all you need to know about the guy. IMO.
And if he doesn't lose the case, it'll say all you need to know about the value of the legal profession. IMO.
Yeo should beware! Michael Mann tried to silence Mark Steyn and has now found himself in a right pickle as Steyn fights back on multiple fronts. Yeo's case looks even less likely to succeed. This could end badly for him.
Bring it on , Yeo and Gummer are serial troughers , although they are 'old school ' Tories they become hero's to the left by the application of green wash. So it would be good to see them publically exposed to 'real questioning' rather than being able to hide behind committees.
Perhaps Trougher Yeo feels emboldened by the meeting of the judiciary where it was decided to ban nasty things being said about cagw and it's promoters.
MPs suing for libel don't have a great track record of success: Jeffrey Archer...Jonathan Aitken... Neil Hamilton... Frank Cook... Andrew Mitchell...
OK, the BBC folded in the Hamilton case but its long-term outcome was still a disaster for him.
Thee photograph of Mr. Yeo makes me think of then President Clinton denying he had sexual relations with that intern, or quibbling over the meaning of "is".
The smell of rotting fish is strong in this one, Obi Wan.
"A former Conservative MP.."
Former because he was deselected, as I recall! I don't suppose he thought that would happen, either.
"At no stage during the lunch when he spoke about ways in which he might be able to assist the journalists, did Tim Yeo understand that what he was being asked to do was act as a paid advocate in breach of the rules."
£7000/day not to be a paid advocate.
Yeo says his reputation has been trashed by the article.
His reputation has earned him money from Green issues, directorships etc. Has he lost the potential to earn even more money?
Doesn't he have to prove how his reputation now, is lower than it was before?
It's from 2013. Everyone's moved on Timmy, I suggest you do too. A disaster waiting to happen, this. Hey ho.
Forgot to add .....
Was it deselection by his tory constituency over trust issues, or the revelation to Greens he was still a capitalist chancer happy to exploit opportunities for personal gain?
Has his former constituency tory party been consulted about his own misrepresentation of himself?
It is not a sin to be Green, or Capitalist, but trying to be both at the same time is going to end up leaving at least one side asking questions.
Doesn't this mean that Yeo will have to disclose all his earnings, business commitments, and the like? That will be interesting.
Capell 2:01, it will be very interesting if he discloses financial information to demonstrate his economic loss, as a result of his reputation being trashed.
He might run the risk of damaging his own reputation, and the reputations of other fine upstanding current and former politicians, who rely on their fine upstanding reputations, to earn loads of money.
The relationship of his former constituency party to that of Lord Deben's, should ensure a Suffolk interest in what is raised in court, or not.
Your Grace, would it be a good idea to update the post with a link to the undercover video where Yeo can be seen and heard being a naughty boy?
Unfortunately the only link to the video I found on short notice is this one from the -urggh- Huffington Post:
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/3410857
Hopefully someone can find a better source because the less traffic to that rag the better...
He used to be my MP before I moved. He was deselected, I believe, because he just did not spend any time in the constituency, having a house in Kent, I think it was, near the golf course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hife_diCqfc
Try this one
How long would it take for a crook to hide all the signs of his misdeeds ? years probably. two years
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2189492/It-wonder-Tim-Yeos-branded-Jolly-Green-Hypocrite.html
Will Mr. Yeo also be taking action against the Mail on Sunday?
There have been concerns voiced about possible conflicts of interests and double standards on Mr. Yeo's part for some time. At least, as an experienced public figure, he might have taken more trouble to ensure that it was seen that this was obviously not the case.
What is it with middle aged white men...they get everywhere these days :)
He looks a bit beyond middle-age to me, but perhaps he's had a hard life (keeping track of all those income streams).
jamesp, according to wikipedia, he runs 3 separate companies with his wife. I am sure this causes stress, but the financial efficiencies must have been judged for their mutual benefit.
I think that the problem is that they are all 'troughers'. These two in particular are not 'old school' anything other than what they have always been... Those that know how to play the game.
If, instead of running a business and working long days (god forbid that you have a 'regular job'), one could be paid a Shukla for blabbering on about nonsense or take 'regular employment' then which would you choose?
Politicians know how to play the game.
If CO2, next year, becomes 'widely recognised' (by voters) as the 'Gas of Life' (that it is) then these turkeys will find their way onto the Committee charged with producing more CO2. They will be investing like crazy in anything that produces lots of CO2 as a by-product. They also get the chance to dump their anti CO2 investments long before the 'switch'.
Politics - It's a sort of insider trading scam where you know exactly what's coming next, you're going to be the one of those that makes it 'Law'. If one can't make money out of a scam like that then I suggest that one shouldn't get involved in the first place.
Same Chameleon, different colour (this week).
Although not in the stellar league of the Oxburgh's Russell's and Jones's in the Bishop Hill Category Archive list, Tim Yeo has a respectable rating in the hall of infamy fame, not least in being Joshed. Two of my all time favourites are this one
http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/102468/20075002/1346354779283/butcher_dave.jpg?token=7YK4YnFMo4mN9clwYLMxgzR6%2Fss%3D
and this one
http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/102468/23942098/1385117478687/Tims_trough.jpg?token=MRL8%2F5DERNszeDKegMe4rCCOGt4%3D
http://order-order.com/2015/10/13/unfortunate-victim-tim-yeo-suing-sunday-times/
For newcomers - watch the Hufpo link provided by Wijnand above. Then read paras 44, 52, 53 and 57 here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmstnprv/849/84904.htm#a16
Shame this case is not before a jury. IMO.
https://inforrm.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/case-preview-yeo-v-times-newspapers-trial-of-former-mps-libel-claim-against-sunday-times-begins-on-12-october-2015/
Section 5 of the Defamation Act 1996 places a one-year limitation on actions for libel, though the court may extend this time limit if it considers it equitable to do so.
https://youtu.be/HUT7hLtFXIk
In which Mr. "I'm happy to be judged by what is on the record" Yeo attempts to outwit the professor without the benefit of any mathematical understanding (whatsoever).
ZT, what an interesting clip of Yeo in action, demonstrating his complete lack of understanding. The fact he seemed quite pleased with himself, further demonstrates his failure. Should he be subjected to a similar low evel of cross examination, he will no doubt squeal with indignation.
Makes me wonder whether that video will be used as evidence of his bias in public office. Some of his vested interests must have benefitted.
Ed Moran:
I think you've got it. Mann's suit against Steyn has definitely resulted in Steyn showing others how to play the libel lawsuit suppression scheme. Publish honest accounts of and about the plaintiff!
Next up! Sunday Times publishes a book about Yeo's ideas and mechanisms for making conflicts of interest appear to be business qualifications. That one can easily be lurid.
A The OK neglected to furnish the glorious conclusion of Steyn's grand strategem:
Declare bankruptcy when Messrs. Sue,Grabbit & Run present their bills..
No Northern Rock or Tim Worral jokes , please, we're skittish.
How such inadequate and talentless politicians can rise to the top is worthy of a phd course. When you see mega troughers such as Yeo and Hummer you do begin to wonder if Corbyn might have a point....Until you realise the left wing and green intelligentsia are just as bad but add hypocrisy and smugness to their list of inadequacies
tonyb
ZT @ 11:52 PM.
I enjoyed that, thanks. What a pompous nincompoop.
Priceless quote from the old porker:
"At no time did they alert me to the fact that they were acting and that I was being set up for a sting"
He does know what a sting is, I suppose..?
Keep on Troughing!
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/keep-on-troughing/
Paul Homewood digs into the finances of the various companies Tim Yeo seems to be involved with, or has generous share options in, or even has created for some reason.
Paul Matthews
I have replied to Paul Homewood's excellent piece on his site as follows;
Good work Paul. In the inexplicable absence of a website called ‘troughers’ I present instead ‘Piggies" which is a Beatles song from double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album). It was written by George Harrison as social commentary on class and corporate greed’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu0Q8CZ6now
tonyb