Defence Companies, Networking and Corruption - big scandal in Britain

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/survey/foresee/tracker.html?siteid=0&name=guardian.co.uk&domain=guardian.co.uk
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The president of the Royal British Legion has quit his post in the wake of claims that he boasted he could use his honorary position to help defence companies lobby ministers and senior figures in the UK military.

Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely resigned following the allegations made in the Sunday Times, which prompted the legion to launch its own internal inquiry.

In a letter to the legion, Kiszely said he had made "exaggerated and foolish claims" about the access he had and how he could use it.

Confronted by the Sunday Times, Kiszley insisted he "always kept my role as national president of the Royal British Legion completely separate from my business interests".

Another person caught in the sting was Lieutenant General Sir Richard Applegate, a former head of procurement at the Ministry of Defence. He is alleged to have said he successfully lobbied for an Israeli defence firm, even though he was banned from doing so under the rules set out by the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba). The rules say former defence personnel cannot lobby for two years after they have retired.

Others fooled by the Sunday Times included Lord Dannatt, former head of the army; Admiral Trevor Soar, former head of the Royal Navy fleet; Lord Stirrup, former chief of the defence staff, and General Sir Mike Jackson, former head of the army.