Hewitt's big business alliance

MANY MPs accept money from big companies. This is in addition to direct company donations to the main parties. Why do these companies give cash? It's obvious isn't it - to get influence over government. "He who pays the piper calls the tune".

Steve Score, TUSC candidate, Leicester West

Patricia Hewitt's interests include being a director of British Telecom for which she received £61,475 between July and November 2009. She is also a special consultant to Alliance Boots services for which she gets £45,000-£50,000. In addition, she is senior advisor to an investment company called Cinven for £55,000-£60,000.

She is standing down from parliament to "spend more time with her family", or should that say 'money'!

The last company on the list has bought BUPA, the private health care company. She knows a lot about that since when she was health minister she handed a lot of NHS work to private hospitals. This was supposedly to reduce waiting lists, but further undermined the NHS in favour of private companies. Isn't it convenient she now has links to private health care and pharmaceutical companies?

Hewitt's replacement as Labour candidate for Leicester West, Liz Kendal, was her 'special adviser' including during her spell as health minister. Did she 'advise' this shift to the private sector? Will she act any differently to Hewitt if elected?

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