Fox in the HMRC coup

More evidence of the intricate relationship between NL and private equity as the new appointed chair of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is Mike Clasper, former Operational Managing Director of the company, Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd.

The previous chair was Paul Gray who ended resigning over the lost disks fiasco (but never fear, he didn’t end up penniless and in need of benefits, he got a nice job in the Cabinet Office instead). The new chair, Paul Clasper, will be involved in selecting the HMRC’s first Chief Executive:

HMRC plays a vital and unique role in the life of our country, its work touching every individual and business. I want to see HMRC in the vanguard of public service delivery, providing a top quality and reliable experience for all of its users. That is what those who work in HMRC want and I’m determined that working together we will achieve that goal.

So expect lots of contracting out from August 2008.

Heinz shelves ad showing two men kissing….

It looks like a cheesy ad  to advertise mayo but what caused Heinz to ditch it was due to the 200 complaints it received (ranging from the ad being “offensive” to “inappropriate”). And why the complaints? Because it showed two men kissing. Yes, two men kissing. And what do Heinz do, they capitulate and apologise:

It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognise that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it.

One of the “concerns” raised was that it was unsuitable to be seen by children because some parents felt uncomfortable about being asked questions about same sex relationships. So they have no problem if it was two straights having a kiss? No problem explaining to the kids about heterosexuality.

But as Mark Sweney points out this ad wasn’t being shown around kids telly programmes as it goes against Ofcom’s regulations relating to foods high in sugar, fat and salt. It is, to quote Sweney, a storm in a teacup that has now turned into a maelstrom.

Why did Heinz have to surrender to the “Shocked from Surbiton” mentality of these complaints? They coulda chosen to ignore them and carried on broadcasting, have some courage of their convictions but no they didn’t, instead maybe dictated to by market forces as the complainers are potential customers but so are lesbian and gay men though they mean very little in the scheme of things or indeed the offence caused to them.

But it seems like Heinz are desperate to be seen on the straight and narrow. The stench of homphobia is overwhelming. The spirit of Mary Whitehouse is alive and kicking…..