Plutocrats lose

WHAT’S THE world coming to, when you buy an island and then the ungrateful peasants vote against you?

The billionaire Barclay twins – Sir David and Sir Frederick – purchased around a fifth of the channel island of Sark. This included half the island’s hotels and one side of the main shopping street. Previously, they had bought the neighbouring island of Brecqhou.

Sark had recently caught up with the nineteenth century by holding elections to a parliament. However, it seems the old feudal ways appear to be more popular than neo-liberal capitalism as 90% of the 473 electorate voted against the Barclays’ candidates.

Feeling miffed, the twins immediately upped and left, taking their £5 million a year investment with them and closing down their shops and building work on their properties, leaving many employees redundant.