Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, who made money out of a book on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has demanded the Libyans pay Britain back for the costs of their liberation.
A Tory MP who made money out of a book on Gaddafi has demanded the Libyans pay Britain back for the costs of their liberation.
Daniel Kawczynski, who filled his boots with the proceeds of “Seeking Gaddafi”, appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire show on BBC Radio Five Live this morning calling for Libya to pay Britain back the £300 million cost of the war.
His reason? Disquiet amongst his constituents at:
“…the prospect of when they have local libraries being closed and pressure on public services as a result of the economic difficulties that our country are facing, they find it difficult to comprehend how we could be spending this amount of money abroad in pursuing the liberation of Libya whilst having to make cutbacks in our own country.”
Yes, you heard him right: Libya should pay the costs of their liberation because his constituents are upset at the library closures and public sector cuts his party instigated and he voted for. This is not so much balancing the books off the backs of the poorest in Britain – as is Osborne’s strategy – but balancing the books off the backs of the victims of Gaddafi.
Never mind the principle that the intervention was to save Libyan lives because it was the right thing to do, not because we thought we could get some money back off them, the unconscionableness of Kawczynski’s position is made even worse by his having profited from the Gaddafi regime through his book; rather than demand money back from the Libyans, would it not be better for him to give them some of the money he’s made out of his “Seeking Gaddafi” tome?
The Libyans, though, shouldn’t hold their breath – this is a man who, as Guido Fawkes revealed this week, is as tight with the purse strings as they come:
His new book is on Saudi Arabia, and with the prospect of travel to the country, Guido can see why the job might be attractive to any budding young writer. But let him warn you, if Kawcynski’s past behaviour is anything to go by, this is nothing but a con…
When writing his last tome, Kawczynski held a similar recruitment process and sources suggest that there was possibly one intern “hired” for each chapter. Interns he “hired” were under the impression that they were the only one.
Strangely many had a similar interview that ended up with them being asked to write a five thousand word essay on a particular Gaddafi-related angle. Those subjects bear an uncanny resemblance to the “Seeking Gaddafi” chapter list…
Weirdly, the writing style in the book isn’t what you might call consistent…
Let us hope this greedy, selfish money-grubber doesn’t make any more money out of the Libyans – or interns – ever again.
See also:
• Gaddafi has underscored the new paradigm; who’s next? – Luke Bozier, October 20th 2011
• Gaddafi is dead. Long live Libya – Shamik Das, October 20th 2011
• Where does NATO, Cameron, and the West stand after the Libyan intervention? – Marcus Roberts, August 22nd 2011
• Cameron stands firm on Libya as poll shows support for regime change – Shamik Das, June 21st 2011
• If the West doesn’t act, Gaddafi will massacre the rebels – Marcus Roberts, March 15th 2011
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22 Responses to ““Seeking Gaddafi” Tory MP demands Libya pay us back for their liberation”
Ed's Talking Balls
What he says comes across as plainly ridiculous. Wars cost money, but sometimes that money simply has to be spent. Cameron made a judgment call: save money and stay out of it, or prevent a massacre in Benghazi. He made his decision and, on balance, I back him.
In terms of “repayment”, all I would personally hope for is gratitude. I would hope that the Libyan people and the new government remember that it was Britain, France and America who stepped forward in their hour of need, while the Germans, Russians and Chinese would have watched Gaddafi destroy them. I bet it won’t happen, but when il contracts are negotiated in future I would like to see those who sat on their hands pushed firmly to the back of the queue.
Consumer
This really sums up the #tories @johnprescott http://t.co/WGT9ptMG
Altered Squid
RT @leftfootfwd: “Seeking Gaddafi” Tory MP demands Libya pay us back for their liberation: http://t.co/UIrYCUkL reports @ShamikDas #Libya
Yesenia Cheung
“Seeking Gaddafi” Tory MP demands Libya pay us back for their liberation – Left Foot Forward http://t.co/ohWYz3t7
Yesenia Cheung
“Seeking Gaddafi” Tory MP demands Libya pay us back for their liberation – Left Foot Forward http://t.co/ohWYz3t7