Double-life of Tory MP

For years he said he never had a second job while an MP. For how long did Shapps carry on his double life as Tory MP and online marketer Michael Green?

Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps, alias Michael Green, faced calls to resign after failing to record his second job as an online marketer while an MP and repeatedly denying it for years.

 
The Guardian newspaper had secured an audio recording of Mr Shapps promoting a publication called “Stinking Rich 3” made in 2006, the year after Shapps was elected to Parliament.

The Guardian newspaper reports that Mr Shapps recently used lawyers to force an online apology from a Labour councillor who made the claim.

 
Mr Shapps recently repeatedly and strongly denied he had a second job since he was elected an MP in 2005.

Faced with clear evidence to the contrary he has now said he got his dates wrong, and that he did in fact publish under the name “Michael Green” while still an MP. The Tory Party has suggested this work stopped during 2006.

There is further online material titled “Free Tips from Michael Green” illustrated with a photo of Mr Shapps with a Michael Green nameplate posting on a web forum as “Michael” from Mr Shapp’s company HowToCorp as late as 31 August 2008. The photo and link to the web forum is available here with a post as late as August 2008 signed off “Kind Regards, Michael.”

The Labour Party has called on David Cameron to instigate an immediate investigation. Shapps, who is running the Tory General Election campaign has tried to shrug off criticism by claiming Labour is “anti-business”.

 
Tory NHS secretary Jeremy Hunt defended Shapps stating in a tweet that he was being unfairly criticised and that his “sin” was to have written books explaining how to create wealth. Hunt has obviously never read the publications.

 
Michael Green published How to bounce back from recession with interesting insights into the mind of the Tory election chief. He points out that corporate predators like recessions as do the “top 1 per cent elite” because everything’s cheaper.

 
A recession is just an opportunity on a thrilling roller coaster ride.

 
“Large companies during a recession are like the top 1 per cent elite who sail through adversity without so much as a burp. They not only thoroughly enjoy the roller coaster ride (laughing hysterically with their hands in the air at all the cheap thrills (a.k.a. reduced rates and cheap buys – foreclosures) that pass most of the frightened passengers by…”

 
There is little faith in Government action: “The effort of the government to shore up the economy and plug economic holes is a short-term fix – a band-aide if you will. Like the amusement ride cars that stop to unload and take on passengers, the economy continues it’s up and down course. Some get off the ride wobbling. Others fall to their knees, needing help to get up again. And some just lose their lunch!”

 
But there are lots of wonderful tips. “Cut out the riotous living!” he demands “ Eat in, grow your own or shop organic, walk, bicycle, join clubs (clubs are a very good source of networking to improve your employment and living situations).”

 
And make use of public services – especially libraries, which the Tories are shutting – and….yes, food banks which the Tories are attacking. “Don’t hesitate to ask for help – no one can help you if they don’t know you need it (barter for goods or services, attend workshops to enhance or acquire skills, research “free” services such as public libraries, food sources, etc.).”

 
Lost your job, never mind. “For those who have lost their jobs, you have TIME. How often did you complain that there weren’t enough hours in a day to do all you wanted, or had, to get done, and still have time to relax, spend with friends/family, or expand a dream or accomplish a long-sought goal? Well, now you have TIME. What are you doing with it?”

 
You could go down the library (assuming it’s not one the Tories have chopped) and look for work online: “Even if you do not have permanent access to a computer, you can use one at the local library for free.”

 
Looking after yourself is good too. Learn to play a guitar (courses from $60 dollars). And even start making money from knitting and crocheting at home.

 
“Additionally, ‘treating yourself’ regardless how big or small the treat or reward is, is important to your mental and emotional well-being during hard times. No one can live in a pressure cooker forever. They will either whither away, dry up and blow away, or eventually *POP!” Perhaps Mr Shapps has gone “POP”.

 
And in bad news for Chancellor Osborne Shapps says to survive a recession: “Make a plan and stick to it and its milestones and goals.” Oh dear, nil marks for target miser Osborne. And don’t be fooled by the ‘recovery’; if you are a business, Michael Green isn’t. Keep your profits, the economy is weak.

 
“Save. Do not be too quick to reinvest profits. You personally are still on the roller coaster, as are your business and employees/staff. Plan/save for times when the already weak economy falters again, taking fragile start-ups and SME (small-medium sized enterprises) down with it.”

 
And in 10 success habits to swell your bank balance in 2006 (transcript) Shapps gives us insights into how he juggled his job as an MP and the job he says he didn’t have as an online marketer. Juggle your diary and make millions in half an hour.

 
His co-host is Peter Twist who helpfully says “presently we’re in December 2005” and “Well to be honest to people, how many times did we cancel this? I think twice. This is our third attempt. It is. But the good thing about this project is our deadline is before Christmas isn’t it?”

 
And Shapps (as Michael) replies “That’s right…And you know, things come up in life [like becoming an MP that year which Michael does not mention] and the other side to this is you have to have flexibility in your life, in your diary….That’s absolutely right as well.

 
“But what we are saying is if you want to get something done, make sure there is a deadline that you must reach. Now I think you can make yourself accountable to yourself. That is possible to do. Like what I often do or used to do in the past, I had a specific day I used to do Fridays for online marketing. I no longer do that because of other things in my life [that’s being an MP, which he again forgets to mention] but I made that a religious sort of habit almost of doing it every Friday for what two or three years and that was when I ran my entire online business. .. Now I run it for about half an hour before I go to sleep each night.”