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Exposing abuses of power

Paul Everitt from Love Your Doorstep on the importance of holding power to account

Paul Everitt joins Lisa Seagroatt for the launch of her book Bandits in the Boardroom
Paul Everitt joins Lisa Seagroatt for the launch of her book Bandits in the Boardroom

We have only just started a new year and we are already inundated with stories of people abusing their positions of power locally, nationally and internationally, with rulebooks and procedure being used to hide uncomfortable truths and protect privileged positions.

Internationally, there is some positive news from the USA that their legal system will not allow a procedural issue to stall the holding of a member of the British aristocracy to account for what, if proved, would be the ultimate abuse of power.

Nationally, we are watching the soap opera of the ‘partygate’ scandal at Downing Street. We are all are being taken for fools as we are forced to wait for an internal inquiry, despite it being obvious to everyone that the leaders of our country think that the rules they make don’t apply to them.

Locally, Enfield Council’s “non-essential” meetings were cynically cancelled in January, under a smokescreen of protecting people from Covid-19 as the Omicron variant took hold, but in reality to restrict proper scrutiny from taking place in the run-up to local elections in May.

I have just fortuitously finished binge-watching a gripping Japanese drama on Netflix, The Journalist, which brilliantly shows the way that lies told in government lead to untold injustices, and how the system of government protects those in power. It’s a fascinating look at the role of the civil servant, whose purpose is to serve the politician, not to serve the public. It’s a great watch and rekindled my belief in the freedom of the press.

Late last year an Enfield-based HR professional, Lisa Seagroatt, released her book Bandits In The Boardroom, which tells the true and cautionary tale of a local charity that imploded because of the abuse of power at the top of the business. The book is a modern parable and is a reminder of why the bonfire of regulations that has happened in recent years has paved the way for appalling executive behaviour.

On the cover of the book, the author is seen lassoing the bandits, proclaiming: “No more lies. Now you will have to tell the truth!” If only it were so.

Bandits in the Boardroom is available to buy from Amazon:
Visit amazon.co.uk/Bandits-Boardroom-Lisa-Seagroatt/dp/B09KN9YM5W


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