The government says it is worried about the rapid rise in house prices in the south east but is scared to increase the bank rate in case it turns the economy back into recession. The problem is that house prices in the rest of UK are not increasing so rapidly and would be more vulnerable to any increase in mortgage interest increase.
So why not use a form of taxation which can be levied geographically? The stamp duty (tax on house purchase) could be increased on transactions within certain postcodes.
It won't happen for two reasons. Firstly politicians are more worried about votes than they are about the electorate or the economy. Secondly, no-one in government reads my blog. How exclusive is that?
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Monday, 17 February 2014
Radical Idea No 1 - Give us a vote
Everyone is getting would up about the forthcoming (not, upcoming!!!) referendum in Scotland. The Scots are going to vote on whether they want to secede from the UK and go it alone.
But the Scots are not the only ones involved in the UK. Why can't the English, Welsh and Norther Irish have a vote on whether they want Scotland to secede? I guess that could lead to problems if Scots vote to stay in UK and the rest of UK vote for them to leave.
But the Scots are not the only ones involved in the UK. Why can't the English, Welsh and Norther Irish have a vote on whether they want Scotland to secede? I guess that could lead to problems if Scots vote to stay in UK and the rest of UK vote for them to leave.
Friday, 14 February 2014
Landmark Trust Spring Draw
The Landmark Trust
Spring Raffle
How would you spend £5000?
How about a break by the sea?
Or you could hunker down in a castle
Got a family?
No car?
Fancy a walk?
Bit of a bookworm?
For the really extraordinary person
The draw closes on Thursday 15th May
and tickets can be bought online
Saturday, 1 February 2014
Sunday, 19 January 2014
More or Less Should be Compulsory Listening
I have commented before on the Radio 4 programme More or Less with Tim Harford, the Financial Times Undercover Economist, which is produced in conjunction with The Open University. Each week Tim examines statistics and claims which are in the news and usually shows that they are at least misleading and often are just plain wrong.
This week two items caught my attention. The first was a report published by The Obesity Forum which stated that the prediction in the Foresight Report on obesity of 2007 that half the UK population would be obese by 2050 was understated . The Forum claimed that clear evidence exists that the situaton would be considerably worse.
The Foresight Report used UK Data covering the period 1997-2004 but in 2005 new data seemed to indicate that obesity was falling. This was reinforced over subsequent years up to the latest figures in 2012. Thus the original perdition was overstated, not understated.
When asked by Tim Harford where their clear evidence came from, the Obesity Forum representative said "We have no actual statistics or figures" It was quite clear to me that this so-called report had been published to grab some headlines without consideration of the facts. Why would an organisation distort the figures to such an extent?
Perhaps it is worth reading down the list of the Obesity Forum's partners.
The second item which attracted my attention was a statement made by Boris Johnson.
He said , in an interview about the recent shooting of a citizen by police, that firearms had been issued in London on 10,000 occasions in the last four years and only used on six of those.
This seemed incredible.
Tim's investigation showed that, in fact, Boris had understated the situation. Firearms had been issued for planned and emergency incidents on 17,000 cases in this period and only discharged on six occasions with a total of 20 bullets used. These figures do not include regular use of firearms for Royal protection duties and the like and a planned surveillance involving several days was only counted as one incident.
During the same period in USA police shot dead 1600 people.
This week two items caught my attention. The first was a report published by The Obesity Forum which stated that the prediction in the Foresight Report on obesity of 2007 that half the UK population would be obese by 2050 was understated . The Forum claimed that clear evidence exists that the situaton would be considerably worse.
The Foresight Report used UK Data covering the period 1997-2004 but in 2005 new data seemed to indicate that obesity was falling. This was reinforced over subsequent years up to the latest figures in 2012. Thus the original perdition was overstated, not understated.
When asked by Tim Harford where their clear evidence came from, the Obesity Forum representative said "We have no actual statistics or figures" It was quite clear to me that this so-called report had been published to grab some headlines without consideration of the facts. Why would an organisation distort the figures to such an extent?
Perhaps it is worth reading down the list of the Obesity Forum's partners.
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity
- Department of Health
- National Institute of Clinical Excellence
- Royal College of Paediatricians
- Association for the Study of Obesity
- National Audit Office
- Korean Academy of Family Physicians
- National Association of Primary Care
- LighterLife UK Limited
- Roche Products Ltd
- Abbott Laboratories
- Slim Fast Foods Ltd
- Safeway Foods plc
- Tanita UK Ltd
- Sanofi-Aventis Ltd
- Mantis Surgical Equipment Ltd
- GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd
- Canderel
- British Meat Nutrition Education Services
- Rosemary Conley Enterprises
- Carlton TV Ltd
- The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust
The second item which attracted my attention was a statement made by Boris Johnson.
He said , in an interview about the recent shooting of a citizen by police, that firearms had been issued in London on 10,000 occasions in the last four years and only used on six of those.
This seemed incredible.
Tim's investigation showed that, in fact, Boris had understated the situation. Firearms had been issued for planned and emergency incidents on 17,000 cases in this period and only discharged on six occasions with a total of 20 bullets used. These figures do not include regular use of firearms for Royal protection duties and the like and a planned surveillance involving several days was only counted as one incident.
During the same period in USA police shot dead 1600 people.
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
A Rewarding Day
Our first visitors this year were our friends Crhis & Paul. You may recall they were selling their narrowboat, Dread On, in France. If you have been attentive you will also be aware that the boat is sold. What we did not know until today is that the buyer, a Frenchman, found the boat through this blog. That just about made my year. Not quite as good as the arrival of grandchild number four in August, but close.
I might not have the largest readership - but what quality!
I might not have the largest readership - but what quality!
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Look what Santa brought us!
There are some parts of UK we cannot reach comfortably by canal - Scotland, for a start. And there are places in Europe which do not freeze up in the winter.
We hope our Murvi will help us to reach those parts Gecko cannot.
We hope our Murvi will help us to reach those parts Gecko cannot.
 |
| Day 1 - Paignton Seafront |
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Season's Greetings to all my Readers
Thank you for visiting my humble blog over the past year. I hope it has been enjoyable and perhaps a little entertaining and educational.
Have a good Christmas and see you in the New Year.
Monday, 2 December 2013
60% Price Hike at Boots
Around this time each year I take my USB stick of interesting photos to Boots and get some printed. I do this once a year because if I print 200 pictures they cost 5p each which I reckon isn't bad. Well this year the price has been increased to 8p which is somewhat above the rate of inflation.
How can this be justified?
Having found several items in Boots are 10% more expensive than in Waitrose the loyalty card does not seem quite such an advantage now.
How can this be justified?
Having found several items in Boots are 10% more expensive than in Waitrose the loyalty card does not seem quite such an advantage now.
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