Princess Anne's husband accused of 'cashing in'

[wannable]

Princess Anne's husband accused of 'cashing in' on defence cuts after quitting MoD to join contractor

Princess Anne's husband has walked out of the Ministry of Defence and on to the board of a private company bidding to manage Armed  Forces housing.
Retired Vice-Admiral  Tim Laurence, 56, has become a non-executive director of the consultancy Capita Symonds.
The company hopes to win the highly lucrative contract to run the MoD's property  portfolio – which was Vice-Admiral Laurence's former role at the ministry.

He took up his new  post this month and his decision has raised concerns about a  possible conflict of interests. Unions say he is 'cashing in' on defence cuts.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is looking for a 'strategic partner' to help run its huge estate, which includes 48,000 homes for service families, military barracks, naval bases, depots, airfields and training areas and costs £2billion a year.

It has announced plans to save £1.2billion over the next four years by selling surplus land and buildings and other cost-cutting measures.
In February, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said more than 2,500 of the 7,000-strong brigade of construction and maintenance staff, responsible for the upkeep of barracks, would lose their jobs.
Controversially, Vice-Admiral Laurence oversaw the three-year programme which led to the formation of the DIO. He did so as chief executive of the MoD's Defence Estates, which he left last summer and which was replaced by the DIO at the beginning of April.
The naval officer would have been closely involved in plans to rationalise the MoD's landholdings and property portfolio. Capita Symonds runs London's congestion charge and has won contracts to review NHS estates.

As the DIO's partner it could charge for repairs to building and equipment, cleaning and catering, and making sure military facilities have power and water. The firm also plans to chase cash-strapped soldiers for rent more aggressively.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace declined to  comment but a royal courtier said: 'Although his appointment has been approved by the relevant committee, we are concerned about "cashing in on cuts" headlines.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390178/Princess-Annes-husband-accused-cashing-defence-cuts.html#ixzz1NPTdBg8w   

[wannable]

No complaints?

[cinrit]

I don't know enough about it to make comments pro or con.  But I will say this ... from articles I've seen in The Daily Mail, it seems like no matter what move any member of the Royal Family makes, their reporters/editors are going to find fault.  Whether or not this is a legitimate fault, I don't know, but it does appear that the DM looks for reason to place blame.  Of course, that kind of reporting does draw more readers.  Wink, wink.  :nod:

Cindy

[Windsor]

With the Daily Mail, one can normally just laugh! They do provide good photos though... :shrug:

[gec]

People move jobs all the time, particularly when their area of expertise becomes privatised or contracted out. This is not "cashing in". It is continuing your career with a different primary organisation.