New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
  2. Media
15 August 2016

The Ukip MP Douglas Carswell is paid in gold nuggets for adverts on his website

Fiscal responsibility, libertarian-style.

By Media Mole

In the modern-day equivalent of storing all your cash under your mattress, the Ukip MP Douglas Carswell asked to be paid in pure gold – rather than via money transfers – for advertising revenue on his blog.

The rabid libertarian asked the political advertising agency, MessageSpace, to pay him in gold nuggets rather than wire transfers. This was hailed as “the quirk about Douglas” and an act of being “fiscally responsible” by the agency’s founder, Jay Singh.

Carswell later told Total Politics that his request for gold had been “tongue-in-cheek”, but did admit to being paid by the company in half gold sovereigns.

Your mole would ridicule this pretentious and anachronistic approach to, er, getting paid a little bit of money, if it weren’t so reminiscent of one of television’s best characters, and most loveable libertarians: Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth
<strong>What kind of tax reforms would stimulate growth?</strong>