Sunday 31 January 2010

The Canny Man and the Flagrant Lord




A story of standards. When Boris Johnson boarded his BA flight to Davos on Thursday for the economic summit, who should greet him but Lord Mandelson of Hartlepool and Foy.

The Business Secretary was sitting in first class, sipping champagne and eating cake.

Boris, ever conscious of the public purse, was booked into economy and trudged past the Lord towards his seat in economy where he found the only snack available was a cereal bar.

Other passengers were heard to mutter that it was rather apt and topical. It showed the wider, philosophical difference between the two parties on the economy: labour profligacy and tory thrift.

Good for Boris showing his true character. It's not the first time he's travelled economy. Meanwhile Lord Mandelson was also showing his true character by enjoying the luxury few of us can afford at our expense.


Editor's comment: I have been advised there is no first class service on BA European flights only business/club class and economy. Business/club class can be three times the price of economy depending upon flight dates.

22 comments:

Fitaloon said...

Pure "Class" warfare

Apogee said...

Yeah, Labour style

D.

Captain Ranty said...

It isn't real money after all. It belongs to someone else, so why should they show any respect or gratitude?

I think they think that if it wasn't for their self-sacrifice we would be back in the caves.

They are addicted to our money and the lifestyle it brings them.

Which is why I am doing all I can to cure them of this dependency.

CR.

Oldrightie said...

I thought snakes should be confined to the hold.

Apogee said...

After all their self sacrifice, we will be back in the caves.(if we can afford one).

D.

subrosa said...

Very witty FL. :)

subrosa said...

You too Apogee. :)

subrosa said...

I don't mind Boris travelling economy CR. I do mind Mandelson travelling first class at possible around 4 times the economy cost.

subrosa said...

In a box OR.

subrosa said...

Oh no Apogee, I don't like enclosed spaces.

Jess The Dog said...

Nice one! Here's my coverage of it..."Snake on a Plane"!

http://jess-the-dog.blogspot.com/2010/01/snake-on-plane.html

subrosa said...

As always Jess, an excellent post. Love the graphic, just superb!

brownlie said...

Should your head-line not be "fragrant" instead of "flagrant"?

subrosa said...

No brownlie lol.

smee2 said...

Naughty!. For fairness, you should have included the comments from the source post - or checked back. From there you will see that there is no first class service from LCY, no first class european BA flights etc. Mandleson is reported to have been sitting in Business Class (Paid or upgrade at check-in your lordship?) which is a curtained off section - same seats, same generous leg room but with 'wine and cake'. What we see and what we would like to see perhaps?

Strathturret said...

Off topic slightly, did you see the film about Mo Mowlam last night? Mandleson was portraded as a nasty piece of work and was subjected to one particularly obscene piece of abuse by Mo. I won't repeat it in case Labour shuts down Subrosa's blog!!

subrosa said...

Smee2, I don't have time to type comments from a source. If my readers want to read comments I'm sure they do so without any advice from me (unless the comments are of particular importance to the post).

Are you saying economy is just the same as business class but with a curtained off bit? That's rubbish. In business class the seats are bigger, far more comfortable and far more leg room. Last time I travelled business class was around 3 years ago so perhaps BA have changed it since. If so then I retract my comment.

subrosa said...

Yes I did see it Strathturret. From the start Mandelson was portrayed as the 'fly on the wall' hanging around in corridors to hear or see something of benefit to his career. Mo had him weighted up and her 'rant' wasn't unexpected.

Excellent performance from Julie Walters once more.

Brianm said...

Subrosa. I support your site; I support fairness. In this instance you are being unfair. Your knowledge of European business class needs refreshing. I have no love for the noble Lord but in this case it appears it is the Evening Standard (your source) that is wrong. Business class in europe is generally a movable curtain, same seat, better service. The respondents at the source explain this adequately (and ask the Evening Times to explain or retract). Please consider modifying your article so that I may continue to follow your offerings.

Brianm said...

Subrosa. I support your site; I support fairness. In this instance you are being unfair. Your knowledge of European business class needs refreshing. I have no love for the noble Lord but in this case it appears it is the Evening Standard (your source) that is wrong. Business class in europe is generally a movable curtain, same seat, better service. The respondents at the source explain this adequately (and ask the Evening Times to explain or retract). Please consider modifying or retracting your article so that I may continue to follow your offerings. In these times, it is so important to be accurate when critising the Labour Government.

subrosa said...

Morning Brian. As I said the last time I flew business class with BA (London to Gibralter) was around 3 years ago and the leg room was certainly better. My reasons for travelling business class is because my companion required extra leg room and it is not always possible to acquire this in economy.

I agree a curtain is all that separates from economy. I would also say the cost has always seemed to be excessive but that is a personal opinion and I do not have a leg-room problem.

Perhaps things have changed in the past 3 years, I cannot verify that.

As for modifying my article I'm prepared to put an editorial note saying it was business class not first class but I stand by my personal comments in the last paragraph.

subrosa said...

Editor's note published brian. Shall I delete one of your duplicated post? Forgot to ask.

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