Sally Allen: Such a pity that those in public life cannot step off gravy train

As always in life, there is one rule for the peasants (you and I) and one rule for those with power. It is neither pleasant nor fair. It is just the way life pans out. Sometimes it even beggars belief how unfair it is for the haves and have nots. 

Examples of this are playing out everywhere at the moment. As anyone who reads my column will know, I see myself as apolitical and basically a caring capitalist. I think it is so important for everyone to have the chance to achieve and make a good living as basically you can’t help others if you are not creating opportunities for others unable to make them for themselves. 

Making money and paying taxes is the name of the game and without our taxes or hard earned cash, the country would be in an even worse situation than it is now. 

So, if we are all beavering away doing our best at every turn; doing what we believe to be right and helping our neighbours whenever we can, I think we deserve better people running our country. 

We should be able to look up to them and know that they have our best interests at heart. Afterall, we naively imagine that is why politicians have been elected; to represent us.

Sadly, and inevitably, when they get power in their grubby hands, they cannot resist the offerings of the oldest profession of prostitution. 

Once you have established that someone’s favours are available for cash, gifts, hospitality, sexual favours – or whatever is on offer, you only have to establish the acceptable price in this well-trodden barter system. However, it still makes you, oh help me, what is the word? Oh yes, a whore!

Our political system is rife with this ghastly exercise of self-advancement, and it will always be the same as honour and pride in what you do, no longer exists. This barter system extends into all walks of life. When someone has power over you, and particularly as a woman, I promise you, it is used against you in every form possible.

Currently Starmer seems unable to get the smile off his chops, and no wonder as he clearly doesn’t give a toss and shows not one shred of embarrassment about his grabbing as much as he can at every turn. 

I know that there is always a lot on offer to anyone in power, but it is positively unseemly (I can think of much stronger language) to gorge on the goodies quite as obviously as he is. And of course, if it is ok for the boss, everyone else has their nose firmly in the trough too. 

This behaviour extends, as I said, into all walks of life with sexual abuse the leading and most preferred use of barter with menaces. Al-Fayed, Savile, Weinstein, Epstein, so many to choose from. Of course, it is all about control and power over someone who is weaker and unable to fight for themselves, in need of a favour or a leg up the ladder. It is horrific and shocking that two of these predators, who were well-known as such by most who knew them, were never prosecuted when our current Prime Minister led the Crown Prosecution Service. In both cases Starmer has claimed these were not his decisions.

But this was even after a number of girls and women came forward to complain. Why weren’t these claims taken seriously? Power of course is the reason. These predatory lowlifes went to their deaths having got away with rape and not a stain on the character. 

Where was Starmer’s judgement? Shouldn’t he have asked for a major investigation? After all it was never just one person making a complaint, they were numerous. Of course, both Al-Fayed and Savile had friends in high places and so clearly the embarrassment to the ‘powers that be’ were more important than clapping these two men in irons for heinous crimes. Shame on you Starmer for taking the easy road.

When I was a young teenager, I went to see a local GP about period pains. Without any hesitation or discussion, he asked me to take all my clothes off and hop on the couch. 

In those days they had no nurses to stand and watch that everything was handled in an appropriate manner, or if an examination was even required, which of course it wasn’t. He then gave me an internal examination. I didn’t even know or understand what he was doing. I was just very frightened. He obviously hurt me, and it is something I will never forget. 

I also, along with many other young people who are abused in a similar fashion, didn’t report it or even tell my parents. I stupidly thought that if a doctor (a pillar of the community) did such an awful thing to me, it must be ok!! 

To this day, I get chills when I pass a road that was actually named after him in Torquay! So, I admire all the whistle blowers as it takes courage to put your head above the parapet.

Back in 1887, Lord Acton wrote to Bishop Creighton that the same moral standards should be applied to all men, political and religious leaders included “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Acton believed that the same moral standards should be applied to all men, political and religious leaders included. How true this is. How sad that he was completely ignored.

It would be a wonderful thing if those in public life could just take a pit stop from the gravy train that they are gorging themselves on. My belief is encapsulated by P.J. O’Rourke “ Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power”.

In addition, although I am in no way religious, I fundamentally believe in the quote from the bible known as the Golden Rule; Matthew 7:12: "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you". If we all lived by this mantra, surely the world would be a better place. Sadly, in reality I doubt it, because the draw of power appears to be impossible for the human race to turn away from. It is the headiest of all aphrodisiacs and therefore, the axis on which the world turns, unpleasant though it is.