Coward cops of Tunisia back on patrol? What an insult to the ISIS terrorist’s victims

IN defence of Tunisia, their ambassador explained on Radio Four’s Today programme that his country had paid a high price as the killings by an ISIS terrorist of 30 British ­holidaymakers had caused their tourist industry to collapse.

Further, he said terrorist attacks were not only happening in his land but in Europe as well. All true.

But there is one difference. When we have outrages in our country our police ignore their personal safety — as with Lee Rigby — and try to capture or shoot down the terrorists.

Not true in Tunisia. With the attack on the Imperial Marhaba in Sousse in full swing in June 2015, the coastguard ­commander fainted, his corporal took off his security shirt so he wouldn’t be recognised, a ­couple of quad bike officers mysteriously didn’t arrive until the ­killings were over, and the same was true of a mounted police team.

A judicial report described their reaction as “at best shambolic and at worst cowardice”.

Five of the Tunisian policemen branded cowards were arrested for incompetence but have been now been released after pressure from their Interior Ministry.

And what do you think they are doing now? Assigned to protecting tourists in the town Sousse.

No matter how low the price, do promise you will not holiday in Tunisia.

Dropped Wright in it

IF you ever wondered why every time you turn on the TV, no matter what sports network, or switch on the radio, no matter what sports station, there are always at least three of the same pundits giving their views, I think I know why.

I am reading Ian Wright’s excellent autobiography.

Clearly 99 per cent is about his football talent and where it has taken him but there is an illuminating couple of pages on his financial situation.

Having been so successful for so long, you would have thought Ian would be nicely sorted. Not true.

Thanks to duff financial advice by what he describes as his “old management”, he is deep in hock to HMRC.

With the exception of the one house he bought for his mother, he has been forced to sell his other eight properties to keep the taxman at bay.

He points out that he is one of the lucky ones as he is being allowed by HMRC to try to pay off the debt through his many TV appearances rather than being bankrupted.

He says in his book he didn’t realise there were loads of big-name players facing similar tax demands who have no way of paying the money back.

They have been exploited by cunning financial companies who trousered their fees and left players facing a lifetime of penury.

There is no way players like Ian could have known what a terrible outcome there would have been to these “deferred tax” plans.

I know Danny Murphy and Martin Keown have to keep their punditry going to keep the wolf from the door. I’d be interested in hearing from other ex-footballers in that position.

There is no shame. It can happen to anybody. It almost happened to me.

I would like to thank Ian for shining a light on the painful exploitation of ­innocent footballers.

— THE Italian for suppository – Innuendo. Thank you.

Cam no fan of Theresa

I HEAR all is not well in the relationship between David Cameron (remember him?) and Theresa May.

They do not speak. Cameron is incandescent at the way Mrs M is running Brexit and the manner in which she has treated his former ­colleagues.

He refuses point blank to pick up the phone to seek favours as he doesn’t want to be in her gift.

Mrs May, meanwhile, never rated Cameron when he was the Prime Minister and would rather start wearing high heels than seek advice from him.

She objected to the boys’ club approach of Cameron at No 10, where only Eton types were allowed to have views.

Her Cabinet is much more of a meritocracy, where if you do your job and keep your mouth shut you will receive ­preferment.

Most of the male Secretaries of State live in fear of her.

I am told the quieter she goes as she hears a minister’s explanation of some policy fumble, the more terrifying it is.

I am rather warming to Mrs M and will put aside the fact she was a Remainer.

Leave has given her a political opportunity she could never have foreseen. She should be so grateful.

Pensioners are being ripped off by energy companies and banks

HAVE energy companies and banks no shame?

They happily rip off a 96-year-old pensioner for years – and when you catch them out and dump them, they have the front to come back and try it all over again.

Ian Stevens took over his dad’s finances last summer when Mr ­Stevens Snr was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

He found his dad had been paying home insurance ­renewals for 20 years without a murmur.

The last one wanted £349 to cover Ron’s ­former council house in Walsall. A quick look online and Ian found a similar policy for just £149.