UK Politics

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Shipley Conservative Sir Philip Davies 'bet £8,000 he would lose his seat' (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] -4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Right, but they weren't doing that. There's no evidence they were and no motive for them to do so. The comparison with athletes is not apt. A pro footballer who bets on himself and manipulates the outcome is still a pro-footballer afterwards. A politician who bets on themselves and deliberately loses is not a politician afterwards. It does not make sense to do it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

no motive for them to do so

I can think of 8000 motives

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

That's about one tenth of the annual MP's salary. So, he has a far greater financial motive to remain an MP than he does to lose and collect the bet.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Well except for the fact that the salary option is:

granted gradually over a year period
requires you to do a full-time job

If they would be able to get even a slightly worse salaried job instead of being an MP, then the financial motive is - in contrast to your claim - actually in favour of him losing

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

yes because "remaining an elected mp for the tories" and "not doing that" represent equal propositions in terms of effort, time and resources

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The motive is money, especially if you're pretty sure you're going to lose.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

"In the 2005 election, I busted a gut to win. I expected to lose. I had a bet on myself to lose in the 2005 election, and my bet went down the pan."

He didn't throw the '05 election, even when he bet against himself.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

so to check, you're fine with a football player betting against themselves, so long as they then happen to win?