THE GOOSE AND THE GOLDEN EGG

The City of London Corporation arguably survives for one reason only: money

Andrea Valentino

SOME YEARS AGO, SIR MARK BOLEAT GOT A CALL from the Treasury. George Osborne, Boleat was informed, wanted to host an event to commemorate the four-hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the Treasury Board. And when, Boleat wondered, was the last meeting? “Oh,” came the reply. “About 390 years ago, we think.” At that, the chair of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation knew just what to say. “And the Chancellor would like to have this splendid dinner that he would host in the Guildhall?” “Yes, Mark, he would.” “And he’d like the City to pay for it, wouldn’t he?” “Yes, Mark, he would! You’re very clever today!” “So we hosted it,” Boleat tells me, adding that the whole affair cost £30,000. Such partnerships…

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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, August/September 2024

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