I have never been able to make up my mind about the Boy Scout movement. I know I had no desire to join them when I was a nipper and in fact I didn't know anyone who did. Still, they never did me any harm and at least those of my age who did join them avoided the sort of mischief me and my mates got up to!
However, as regular readers of these distinguished columns - who said that? - will know, I am not above changing my mind when faced with incontrovertible truth which flows, so they say, from 'the mouths of babes and sucklings'. Well, young master Alex Rukin, a Boy Scout with the badges to prove it, is well past that stage of life and instead of growing steadily more stupid as most of us do, he actually retains his wisdom.
The Telegraph has a report, including a YouTube video, on yesterday in parliament in which Master Rukin, accompanied by his Dad - presumably for the purposes of carrying his brief-case - appeared before a Select Committee of the House looking into the 'porkies' the statistics of the greedy fat cats leeching onto this ridiculous HS2 train scam:
A nine-year-old boy scout has accused High Speed Two bosses of being "really really bad" at maths and making things up during a Parliament appearance amid concerns of the project's spiralling budget.
Alex Rukin, from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, accused the controversial rail project's managers of not being able to use a map properly and offered to personally help them work out the sums.
This, according to The Telegraph, instantly "triggered a detailed response from the Department for Transport's lawyers". I bet it did given that 'Dim Dave' stands foresquare behind the project. Need one say more?
Well young Alex ripped the train mob a new one - and so politely. Well done that lad.
Posted by: AussieD | Tuesday, 13 January 2015 at 09:22
Yes, I think the Boy Scouts will have to mint a new badge for him!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 13 January 2015 at 09:44
Perhaps the sum symbol Σ [Sigma] superimposed on an extended middle finger would be appropriate.
I'll bet there were some harsh words directed towards the lad in the boardroom and by your mate Dim Dave.
Posted by: AussieD | Tuesday, 13 January 2015 at 10:27
Love young Alex. I just wish he wouldn't say haitch............I must admit I am very surprised you lot are teaching kids to say haitch...........it's wrong......yes, I know, Miss Woods, circa 1955 Eng. Lit.etc.
Aitch..........aitch.............repeat after me, aitch............
If you don't believe me check your dictionary.
Posted by: Andra | Tuesday, 13 January 2015 at 10:50
He's H A PPY ( haitch Aye Pee Pee Why) ot as in Haitch for Horse.
Galpin Road School 1945- from assorted female teachers who tended to get spots, swell up and leave.
Posted by: john malpas | Tuesday, 13 January 2015 at 23:56
The young man was no doubt well briefed by his elders who could not make a case. Typical for adults to put up a child for their aims. I would nationalise the railways without compensation to the carpet baggers and expand it ten fold.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Wednesday, 14 January 2015 at 01:26
I would nationalise the railways
Hasn't Nationalisation been tried before in your neck of the woods Jimmy? If my reading on the subject is only partly near the truth it didn't work out all that well in terms of service and reliability.
Posted by: AussieD | Wednesday, 14 January 2015 at 10:47
It was successful but underfunded. The Tories sold it off to their pals who now get public money as well as the profits. Biggest con since the bus sell off in 1986. The bus owners still get millions in subsidy.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Wednesday, 14 January 2015 at 19:11
Twaddle, Jimmy! British Rail was a clapped out, useless, inefficient, strike-bound, waste of time and money!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 14 January 2015 at 20:53
It was clapped out because off lack off investment. Public money is going straight into the hands of shareholders. And what about the stockholders who never produced one item of rolling stock . Do you forget that David!
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Thursday, 15 January 2015 at 00:24