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February 19th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda - Policy guru Steve Hilton advises education secretary to fly with rival Virgin
- Downing Street forced to distance itself from the controversial views of prime minister’s close friend
- Virgin says it is ‘delighted’ to be adviser’s ‘carrier of choice’
By
Anthony Bond
Last updated at 10:34 AM on 19th February 2012
Outspoken: Steve Hilton, David Cameron’s closest adviser, has described British Airways as ‘fat cats’ and urged a cabinet minister to fly with its rival Virgin
Downing Street has been forced to distance itself from David Cameron’s closest adviser after he described British Airways as ‘fat cats’ and urged a cabinet minister to fly with its rival Virgin.
The controversial views of Steve Hilton, the prime minister’s director of strategy, have been revealed by the education secretary Michael Gove.
According to The Observer, Mr Gove said in an interview: ‘When I was explaining to Steve Hilton that I was going off to the States, he said: “What are you flying? Don’t fly British Airways, they are the fat cats. Fly Branson, he is the upstart. We are on the side of the upstarts”.
The comments from Mr Hilton – Downing Street’s ‘blue sky thinker’ – will be a huge source of embarrassment to Number 10.
It immediately distanced itself from Mr Hilton’s comments by insisting that the views were expressed in a personal capacity.
It also pointed out that Mr Cameron had recently traveled with BA to Saudi Arabia.
The huge rivalry between Virgin and BA is no secret.
In 1993, it led to BA having to pay £610,000 damages for a ‘dirty tricks’ campaign against Virgin and about £3m in legal costs.
Five years ago Virgin also cooperated with a price-fixing enquiry which led to a record £270m fine for BA.
Last week Virgin Atlantic claimed that passengers would face reduced services and higher fares if BA was successful in its planned takeover of rivals BMI.
Rivals: Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, left, has welcomed the comments of Steve Hilton. BA chief Willie Walsh is pictured right
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of
IAG, the owner of BA, responded by saying that Branson’s views did not
make sense and added that they were driven by the motivation to look
after Virgin’s position and not the consumer’s.
An aide to Sir Richard Branson – the boss of Virgin Atlantic – told The Observer that the billionaire businessman was ‘delighted that we appear to be Steve Hilton’s carrier of choice and would look forward to welcoming Michael (Gove) on board.’
He added: ‘We have long fought the “fat cat” of the skies and will do all we can to keep it counting calories.’
Mr Hilton, 42, is a former Saatchi Saatchi advertising executive who is also a close friend of the prime minister.
Happy: Virgin said it was ‘delighted’ that it appeared to be Steve Hilton’s carrier of choice. This is an image from one of the airline’s adverts
He is known for his unconventional
thinking and officials in Downing Street have previously been forced to
downplay the views reportedly held by him.
It was reported that during one brainstorming session Mr Hilton asked civil servants why the prime minister had to obey the law.
He is also believed to have upset a number of people within Number 10 through his abrasive style.
Mr Gove’s interview with the right of centre Standpoint magazine took place this month.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Cameron ‘regularly travels with both airlines and that it is good to have two successful airlines competing in the market.’
British Airways declined to comment.
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Branson should be ecstatic if indeed BA are likely to raise prices and give poor service – he should be happy to compete and offer better, cheaper service…..if he can.
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He’s right though!
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Well it shows how much Steve Hilton knows – I get the strong impression that Branson is at the top ofthe fat cat tree.
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They both fly old planes.
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Twenty six years on and Virgin are still upstarts, Hilton is behind the times.
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Steve Hilton is a liability. Ditch him. The only criteria David Cameron should be thinking about when choosing an airline is “are these tickets the cheapest”.
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And the problem with him telling telling the truth is?….
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The British goverment should fly Ryanair
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Unfortunately this gentleman is right insofar as BA is concerned. The mentality from the old days of BOAC and BEA when they were Government owned still holds sway and they are not as competitive as other airways companies. It is only the fact that they such a stanglehold on slots at Heathrow that keeps them solvent.
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Steve Hilton must be one of Richy Gervaise’s best comic characters in years. I am really looking forward to the day when he pulls off the disguise.
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