Thursday, October 22, 2009

Why Beth is an inspiration and Jenson isn't



Why Beth Tweddle is an inspiration for young people in Hackney and Jenson Button isn't

Two British World Champion in a week. Both considered possibilities for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Beth Tweddle is a truly World Class gymnast who has performed at the top level for many years now. She is an inspiration to thousands of young gymnasts around the country and kick started a new era in the sport in Britain that has seen the emergence of Olympic medallist Lewis Smith, World All Round silver medallist Daniel Keatings and a clutch of youngsters who could make Britain a real force in the event in 2012.

So Beth has been competing at the top level since 2001 and last year earned around £30,000. She is unlikely to earn much in endorsements so when she retires she will pursue her ambition of becoming a physiotherapist. So she'll continue to earn modest wages and pay her taxes that pay for schools and hospitals.

Jenson Button on the other hand, like Lewis Hamilton, is a tax exile. He earns millions a year and pays no tax in the UK. Happy to drape a union jack around his shoulders after a race. Happy to talk about being proud to be British. Totally unwilling to pay his fair share towards vital public services. What sort of signal does it send to children when we heap praise upon people like this without even mentioning that they decide to live somehwere else just to avoid paying their dues?

Oh and gymnastics is also a real sport.



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