

Eagle-eyed Scottish energy observers are increasingly wondering if the head of Chinese-owned Nexen oil is taking the N. Sea oil and gas industry’s new-found ‘flexibility’ credo to heart and has landed himself a cushy part-time new job as the presenter and star of the BBC TV series, The Apprentice.
This is the TV show presented by popular property magnate, free-enterprise icon, self-made trillionaire and ex-pat Cockney barrow-boy Lord Alan Sugar – a one-time good friend of the ex-leader of the British Labour Party and the last (albeit unelected) Labour prime minister Gordon ‘Trust-Ma-Vow’ Brown.
In the good old / bad old days under First Comrade Broon, Lord Sugar exploited invaluable, free, global advertising for his personal brand while ostensibly seek to hire a (young, preferably graduate) trainee as his ‘apprentice’.
In the new good old/ bad old days under another unelected prime minister (Mrs T. May) Lord Sugar exploits invaluable, free, global advertising for his personal brand while ostensibly seek to hire a (young, preferably graduate) candidate as his ‘ business partner’…
(Repeat; many times…)