28. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets and perform the role play given below. Mp Put under Pressure to Quit

Pressure grew yesterday for the resignation of the Conservative MP Michael Trend after formal investigation (1) _______________ (to launch) into a scandal over his expenses.

The Windsor MP appeared (2) _______________ (to escape) relatively lightly. He agreed to return £90,000 to the taxpayers that he claimed as an allowance on his London home for nearly nine years after he (3) _______________ (to sell) it. At a low-key press conference Mr Trend, a former Daily Telegraph leader writer and deputy chairman of the Tory party, also announced he (4) _______________ (not to stand) at the next election.

Labour MPs were said (5) _______________ (to discourage) from (6) _______________ (to lodge) a complaint against a fellow member – a mood (7) _______________ (to reflect) by a reluctance to comment yesterday. This cozy arrangement collapsed this week when a member of the public in his constituency complained to Sir Philip, who then (8) _______________ (to oblige) (9) _______________ (to launch) an inquiry.

The publication of Sir Philip’s report, due later this year, (10) _______________ (to see) as a catalyst by some MPs for a change of parliamentary rules and could bring about a by-election.

Civil servants also face sanctions if they (11) _______________ (to catch) (12) _______________ (to misuse) their position by the national audit office, which would report the matter to their employer. One public organization, the Arts Council, got an internal warning when officials (13) _______________ (to find) (14) _______________ (to accept) free tickets to shows it (15) _______________ (to subsidize).

The scandal (16) _______________ (not to go) down well in Mr Trend’s constituency. As well as (17) _______________ (to attack) by the Lib Dems who were runners-up in the general election he (18) _______________ (to receive) critical letters from members of the public.

One pensioner, Roy Burningham, wrote to the Windsor and Eton Express (19) _______________ (to say): “If a company employee (20) _______________ (to take) money from his employer by means of fraudulent expenses claims they not only (21) _______________ (to sack) but also (22) _______________ (to be) subject to criminal prosecution. As a pensioner (23) _______________ (to live) on an ever decreasing income, I find it highly offensive that my taxes (24) _______________ (to enable) my employee to live fraudulently beyond his means.”

Mr Trend publicly (25) _______________ (to defend) in the local press by his secretary, Beryl Goldsmith. She (26) _______________ (to praise) his “dedication and hard work, his sympathetic approach and understanding of individual distress.”

Mr Trend (27) _______________ (to tell) the fees office he (28) _______________ (to be) “genuinely mistaken” in (29) _______________ (to believe) that he could claim for the house despite selling it. He said yesterday: “I (30) ______________ (to help) the commissioner with his inquiry which (31) _______________ (to make) public. I cannot make any other comment at this stage.”

(From ‘The Guardian’, abridged)

Role play. The publications in ‘The Guardian’ and the ‘Eaton Express’ aroused public indignation. Now a public meeting is being held in Windsor. Choose a role and prepare your speech. (While presenting your speech try to use as many infinitive constructions as possible.)

Role 1. You are Roy Burningham. Express your ideas.

Role 2. You are Clarence Blur, the person who complained to Sir Philip and initiated the inquiry. Explain why you decided to write your letter and say what, in your opinion, MPs are supposed to do.

Role 3. You are Magda Taylor, Michael Trend’s fellow MP. Try to explain that Mr Trend’s “mistake” is an exception rather than the rule. Your task is to protect the image of Tory MPs.

Role 4. You are Amanda Goldbergh, Mr Trend’s lawyer. Try to explain to members of the public that there was no fraudulent intent in Mr Trend’s actions.