This is just a brief update on a shop move and the opening of a store famed for its sausage rolls. Greggs on King Street looks ready to open. The signage is up and the furniture and kitchen equipment are in. But it does not have an adequate power supply. That will be sorted before the Mayfair. Specsavers is moving across the road to the former HSBC bank building. We are seeing changes in Ludlow's retail shops. That has always been inevitable. The pandemic has not had as much an impact here in Ludlow as elsewhere where it is led ...
The American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. defined taxes as "the price we pay for civilisation." In that sense I am all in favour of them and think they should be sufficient to enable everyone in an economy to enjoy a secure, decent, and, yes, "civilised,", quality of life. I regret the use of the term "burden" in relation to taxes. Ideally citizens should regard paying taxes as a "privilege." (Many people in my parents' generation were quite chuffed when their earnings rose high enough for them to pay income taxes.) If "privilege" is a stretch too far, then we ...
News reaches us via Ed Fordham of two memorial events for party legend Erlend Watson, who sadly passed away on 25th January. Memorial Service for George Erlend Watson (in two parts) Memorial Service (1) 3pm on Monday 23rd May 2022 St Olav's, The Norweigian Church and Seaman's Mission 1 St Olav Square, Albion Street, Rotherhithe, London. SE16 7JB Memorial Glee Club (2) 5.30pm also on Monday 23rd May 2022 National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HE (the formal proceedings will be over by 6.30pm) Donations in aid of The Royal Papworth Hospital Charity, Cambridge. To reserve a ...
A memorial service for stalwart Liberal Democrat activist Erlend Watson is being held after the local elections. Here are the details I've been asked to pass on: Memorial Service for George Erlend Watson (in two parts) Memorial Service (1) 3pm on Monday 23rd May 2022 St Olav's, The Norwegian Church and Seaman's Mission,1 St Olav Square, Albion Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 7JB Memorial Glee Club (2) 5.30pm also on Monday 23rd May 2022 National Liberal Club,1 Whitehall Place, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HE (The formal proceedings will be over by 6.30pm) Donations in aid of The Royal Papworth Hospital Charity, Cambridge. ...
The Guardian reports that Rishi Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, has finally bowed to pressure to pay UK taxes, saying that she has realised many people felt her tax arrangements were not "compatible with my husband's job as chancellor", adding that she appreciated the "British sense of fairness". She will now pay tax on all worldwide income in future and for the last tax year, but not on backdated income, which could have saved her an estimated £20m of UK tax on foreign earnings from her billionaire father's Indian IT company. However, this affair is far from over. There is the ...
With the end of another quarter, another update to PollBase, my database of British voting intention opinion polls since 1943 is now up. Jack Bailey and Luke Mansillo have taken this data and turned it into PollBase Pro, daily estimates of aggregate voting intention in Great Britain from 1955. Details here. Enjoy! P.S. For the very latest polls, see my polling scorecard and for the history of polls, how to spot the good from the bad and what the future holds for opinion polling, see my book, Polling UnPacked. Get polling news and analysis by email Sign up here if ...
Responding to the statement from Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty announcing she will now start paying UK tax on her overseas income, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "This shows that Rishi Sunak's wife could have paid her fair share of taxes in this country all along, despite his initial claims. "Doing something just because you've been found out isn't good enough. "Sunak's household now needs to backdate these taxes in full. "Perhaps then the Chancellor will feel he can afford proper help for families struggling with soaring energy bills."
Residents will recall that I recently reported the poor pavement surface on Hawkhill outside Sinderins Court to the City Council's Roads Maintenance Partnership, requesting repairs. I am pleased to advise that I have now been informed in reply : "... that particular section of footway in included in next year's slurry sealing programme." This is good news as this will significantly improve the pavement here.
