The Corporate World in the Dock.

Back in 2006, two children died on holiday in Corfu. They were killed by carbon monoxide from a faulty heating boiler, and the subsequent inquest found that the tour operator, Thomas Cook, had been deficient in its duty of care.

This has hit the headlines again recently because the parents of the children have been demanding an apology from Thomas Cook, something which the company at first refused to give. When they were forced to bow to public outrage and issued an apologetic letter to the parents, it somehow must have gone astray because the parents only learned about it from the press. Needless to say, this generated more fury.

Today I read that Thomas Cook – the company held to be partly responsible for the tragedy – has been awarded £3m in compensation from the Corfu hotel owner. Seems an odd way to boost profits, doesn’t it? But it gets better. No doubt concerned about their somewhat tarnished image, Thomas Cook has announced that it is to give half the £3m to charity. Only half, mind, only half…

Is this the time to remember a famous phrase used by Edward Heath, an ex Tory Prime Minister, when he spoke of ‘the unacceptable face of capitalism?’ I think it probably is.