David Cameron dreams of the Iron Throne

20 February 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Business and finance, Game of Thrones on Business

The UK is gearing up for a big election in the next few months. Nick Clegg’s been locked up somewhere in the hope the electorate forgets about him, Labour has launched its ‘pink bus of feminism’ and Nigel Farage is trying not to look like a complete tool in the run up to voting day (not that that seems to matter to the UKIP faithful).

Political rivalries are not new; they have gone on for thousands of years and come hand in hand with deception, backstabbing (remember the Ides of March?) and defamation of character. And you thought Game of Thrones was gory. David Cameron’s ‘hospitality bill’ has just been released and shows that he spent nearly £2,000 of tax payers’ money on entertaining guests like the Queen and, less justifiably, Claudia Schiffer. Perhaps Cameron is as much a fan of Game of Thrones as the rest of us (it would certainly show him being ‘in touch’ with his people) and enjoys flamboyant gestures and indulgent dinner parties much like the characters do.

Some may comment that, given some people pay up to £30,000 for their own wedding, red or otherwise, £2,000 for a whole year entertaining royalty and 1990s supermodels is actually a bargain. However, this bill is only for his private retreat, Chequers. Who knows how much more he has spent in Number 10! Surely the Queen is so used to lavish parties that she might prefer some humble fish and chips on her holiday?

The Tories, to many people of the UK, are the Lannisters of government: overprivileged toffs who take it for granted that they should be in charge of the country (so does that make Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband Stannis Baratheon and Daenerys Targaryen?). Only time will tell whether Dave will be elected for a second term and it is probable that he may have to settle for another coalition. However, with the economy still at functioning at a less than optimal level, and national cuts being made left right and centre, perhaps Cameron could focus more on how to help the country rather than fuelling the perception that he is an entitled, public school-educated posh boy who has no interest in the working and middle classes.

Certainly Cameron, in contrast to King Joffrey, has (to our knowledge) not ordered any decapitations during his time in office, but many voters who could sway the upcoming election need to be convinced that Cameron is interested in more than keeping rich people rich (and poor people poor). We would suggest that Cameron read our upcoming book, Game of Thrones on Business, which is full of tips and advice on how to recognise the signs that your Lannister side is overcoming your Stark good intentions and rectify it before you get shot in the privy.