The secret millionaire

cepheus

I have just been watching a TV series on C4 called The secret millionaire where John Elliott, a life-long supporter of the Conservative Party, and one of the richest people in England temporarily moved to a poor district of Liverpool to find people in need which he could give money to. To do this he temporarily left his business, dressed down and lived in a bedsit on £8/day

He initially thought that most people he met were scroungers avoiding work. However, after visiting a church service the Alfero family invited him to join them for a meal. They were originally from Nicaragua, but lived together because one of the daughters, Maria, had run up an £800 credit card debt which she could not pay of due to the interest, whilst her hard-working husband, Philip, could not get a mortgage for a house of their own. John thought the debt was due to the daughter’s own fault, but after further consideration he felt symphony to the friendliness and ambitions of the family.

So what did John do, give them a £10 000 deposit on a mortgage, so instead of being £800 in debt they were now £90800 in debt. There was no mention of paying of the Credit card debt or examining if they could afford the mortgage payments.

To me John has a classic right wing mentality. I understand his frustration regarding scroungers, but I find it difficult to believe that there are not more desperate people such as those who just want to break even and make a fresh start rather than gamble on future house price rises.

aurora_borealis_2

I watched this too.

Most of the programme was an excuse for espousing his views on unemployment, debt and asylum seekers.

Having met real people he had changed his mind enough to donate to each of these causes.

So he's a millionaire ... and he gives:
£7000 to an asylum seeker's refuge
£10000 as a house deposit to the young couple (£0 to rest of family - all in debt)
... and a job, miles away, to an asylum seeker.

I was completely underwhelmed.

slowlyfading

is that on again? it would be an interesting watch.

aurora_borealis_2

It is a series - different millionaires each week.
I think cepheus may have watched the repeat because I saw it earlier in the week.

Sassers

aurora_borealis wrote:

I watched this too.

Most of the programme was an excuse for espousing his views on unemployment, debt and asylum seekers.

Having met real people he had changed his mind enough to donate to each of these causes.

So he's a millionaire ... and he gives:
£7000 to an asylum seeker's refuge
£10000 as a house deposit to the young couple (£0 to rest of family - all in debt)
... and a job, miles away, to an asylum seeker.

I was completely underwhelmed.

I must sound like a cynical old moo - but those `donations' are all offest through tax as he could claim it back......That's why so many big firms like Sainsbury, Vodafone etc have charitable trusts.........

aurora_borealis_2

Sassers wrote:

I must sound like a cynical old moo - but those `donations' are all offest through tax as he could claim it back......That's why so many big firms like Sainsbury, Vodafone etc have charitable trusts.........

I was just staggered that they filmed him for a week and that's all he gave.
What a judgemental skinflint!

Broken_hearted

More interested in what he's doing to help the people in the area he lives in. Oh thats right NOTHING. Nice bit of publicity for him though.

stacey21_2

aurora_borealis wrote:

I watched this too.

I was completely underwhelmed.

I watched this and although at first I thought the same, I started to think that at the end of the day, its HIS money, he worked for it, he doesnt HAVE to give millions away just because he possibly could?

Sassers

Broken_hearted wrote:

More interested in what he's doing to help the people in the area he lives in. Oh thats right NOTHING. Nice bit of publicity for him though.

I quite agree - I'd like to know if this is his way of gaining publicity and `brownie points' because he wants to stand as a politician?

aurora_borealis_2

stacey21 wrote:

I watched this and although at first I thought the same, I started to think that at the end of the day, its HIS money, he worked for it, he doesnt HAVE to give millions away just because he possibly could?

No indeed, but I like a happy ending And why agree to go on a programme to give money away if you're going to hang on to it for grim death

My DD has watched another in the series and this one featured a man that was practically handing it out in the street! Far more pleasant to watch, apparently.

Sassers

Oops sorry just removed double post!