Jun 2024
11:44am, 26 Jun 2024
50,300 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
His name is Marcus, isn't it? I hate football!
|
|
Jun 2024
11:44am, 26 Jun 2024
50,301 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
(No, that's not on the wrong thread!  G )
|
Jun 2024
11:46am, 26 Jun 2024
17,343 posts
|
jda
Buying insurance is betting on yourself to lose. Should that also be outlawed? Arguably, so is wearing a seatbelt in a car, a helmet on a bicycle, and buying a vehicle with good crash protection. One way or another, these things are generally encouraged or even mandated, not prohibited. |
|
Jun 2024
11:50am, 26 Jun 2024
17,344 posts
|
jda
(The reason they are all the same is that they are all hedging against a possible loss, and the likelihood of the outcome is affected by the behaviour of the person doing the hedging.) What would make it qualitatively different would be if the insurance/bet was so large that losing became the preferred option. I don't believe that was the case for the Labour guy, he'd much prefer to win the election and fulfil his lifetime ambition to become an MP, and lose the bet, than lose the election and get a few quid back to drown his sorrows. See also: people insuring a property for more than it's worth and burning it down. Etc. |
Jun 2024
11:52am, 26 Jun 2024
20,209 posts
|
Dave W
Not the same at all, JDA. Not in any way shape or form. A very strange post from you, if I may say. |
Jun 2024
11:57am, 26 Jun 2024
5,443 posts
|
paulcook
HappyG(rrr) wrote: Larkim, it was more like Mark Rashford betting on Liverpool to beat Man U, when he can influence it by being sh*t. So a much more serious offence to bet against yourself when you can influence the outcome. I agree the intention was almost certainly NOT to do that, but it doesn't matter, it shouldn't even be possible to do that. Immediate dismissal. I'd just say why not make it really simple and take any debate out of the matter - politicians can't bet on politics. End of? What's so controversial about that? It's not taking away some fundamental human right (gambling is a nasty business anyway, imho.) And politics isn't meant to be "a bit of fun". It's about governing the country and the world for the benefit of all, not for the fun and profit of a few. Grrr. Agree entirely with this post. Starmer's position yesterday was immediate and forthright. There's a good chance he goes through with the rest of your suggestion once he's PM. |
Jun 2024
12:17pm, 26 Jun 2024
24,746 posts
|
larkim
I think I was making exactly that point; that the fact that he was a player in the game meant he shouldn't have bet and that it was entirely correct that he was sanctioned. I was just saying that I suspect he didn't quite see it like that himself because he had no intent of "playing" in a way which would cause himself to win the bet; I can see a politician divorcing themselves from it in an way and just not joining the dots. Banning politicians from betting on politics sounds a great idea; but who is a "politician"? Elected MP, fine. Candidate? At what point are they a candidate? Local councillor? Member of the selection panel for a constituency? Spouse of chair of local Party? etc etc It would be easy to cast a narrow net for MPs (and probably parliamentary candidates too), but there are lots of "politicians". Any ban should come internally from the Parties I suspect, to ensure that officials don't do what the Tory officials did. In an ideal world, removing the ability of betting markets to operate in relation to politics would be good, but that feels very unworkable. |
Jun 2024
12:24pm, 26 Jun 2024
21,273 posts
|
Cerrertonia
Surely this stuff is all covered by the Nolan Principles? gov.uk
|
|
Jun 2024
12:28pm, 26 Jun 2024
17,345 posts
|
jda
Saying it’s not the same doesn’t mean it’s not the same.
|
|
Jun 2024
12:32pm, 26 Jun 2024
20,214 posts
|
Dave W
If you KNOW something is going to happen because of your position in an organisation and you “bet” on it that’s straight up criminal. Or if someone with the above tells you and you bet on it then so is that. Insider trading the same thing and it’s a crime. If you have skin in the game and can influence the outcome then that’s also possibly criminal if you do so. The politicians really need to up their game with regards to their own actions and integrity. And it pains me to say that some police officers have been similarly inept. They should really have known better. |
Useful Links
FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.Related Threads
-
Fantasy General Election
Jul 2024
-
EU Referendum - In or Out? Vote here
Aug 2018
-
March to Parliament Against Brexit - Sat 2nd July
Jun 2016
-
EU Referendum
Feb 2016
-
Ads on Fetch - anyone else getting Leave and Remain?!
Feb 2017
-
The Environment Thread :-)
Jan 2025
-
Economics
Jan 2025
-
Dear Scottish Fetchies
Jan 2023
-
Any economists out there - question
Oct 2022
-
Power and exploitation - please check my sanity
Oct 2018