kenny

It's more like 9% in England, once the Highlands, N.Ireland and Snowdonia are removed. All out of town developments are constructed for a car based lifestyle. So they are not the developments of the future, but an outdated model. The current government policy is to force development into the countryside and have reduced housing targets on cities by 50%, which is an appalling policy. It's a politically motivated and a short sighted, destructive policy that belongs in the 1990s.

It's a Tory policy they want rid of. As far as I'm aware the Tories aren't proposing to change it, though it probably does need some reform as it stifles smaller developments. Lib dems support the current bng policies and want to make them more onerous. Whoever is in charge, we should be building in our cities not the countryside.

The current government for one. It's the biodiversity legislation that is in the firing line under the planning reforms.

If there is a staff benefit we can offer then we are looking at it. Unfortunately, everything is taxable. I'm trying to figure out whether we can even offer gym membership without the staff paying tax on it, it's looking like the answer is no. The Tories shut down most of the tax loopholes and there are few left available to 'working people'.

You have got the cycle to work scheme in there. That exists and was designed to encourage sustainable travel. The others, they do, but it's all taxable. Typically the schemes to do it sells their goods at higher prices than the high street so no one bothers.

I would too if there were any truth to your statement.

I suspect that reducing bus fares back to £2 is cheaper and has a greater effect on the lowest income workers. It was a good policy and should be bought back.

She is horrible. I don't know why any politician would agree to be interviewed by her. Better with Peston as he uses his 15 minutes of interview time asking the first question, then you can leave.

There was loads of flats built like that already and it's nice and peaceful down there. It's weirdly quiet like a ghost town. For some reason, having loads of people living there has not added to the vibrancy of the area at all. I worked at friars mill and you barely saw anyone yet the developments are fully occupied.

You are mostly right IMO. We need 5-6 storey developments in the town, the keepmoat site at the waterside is a real waste of space. It's a car centric housing development in the middle of town. The corah site is more dense, though there was no need to demolish the historic frontages. Leicesters planning department is the biggest barrier to good development in the city.

Might as well just up UC by whatever the average figure is.

The only issue with that, is that it doesn't help businesses with energy costs. Otherwise I agree. I guess the benefits thing is that its too difficult to administer.

In this case, I am the beholder. You are right to mention Japan. No lockdowns at all.

Sweden did well despite being criticised for a lack of lockdowns by the rest of Europe.

Apologies, it has been in UK territorial waters this year and it isn't clear if it has on this occasion. Correct on the aircraft. Though im not sure that changes anything. I wonder how Russia would react if we behaved in the same way. Nuclear escalation I expect.

Accessing territorial waters isn't. Nor is firing lasers at fast jets. Maritime surveillance in international waters, even over pipelines/cables would be normal.

Its a bit weird in europe how you don't find out kick off times until quite late as well.

I forgot to ask how you got about getting tickets. Do you just turn up and assume the grounds are empty?

The cold hurts my lungs. Does a cigarette while running help?

I was going to say the same. @Izzy is the client, but the main builder is the source of repeat work. So the subbies won't mess them around like they would a homeowner. The issue for most tradesman is that working for a homeowner is a single job that has no follow-on. Working for a main 'builder' is repeat work so will always take preference. And they are disorganised, really disorganised.

Did my first 5k after a 2 week holiday, bit of a struggle but was ok. Loads of off topic posts in this thread. Reckon a few need banning, banging on about half this and extreme that.

Just guesswork on the basis the majority will be higher earners. In reality, it will be more once they have spent their salaries in terms of vat etc. £20k x 100k is the £2bn figure I came up with. It's was to represent the point that has been made elsewhere that the higher taxpayers are so important to our economics, we shouldn't be driving them away.

Very true. Other countries could indeed be desperate for our deliveroo drivers or maybe our unemployed. Another one of those we will never know moments. The radio is grim listening with this news though.

I can almost hear Rachel letting everyone know there are plenty more high rate tax payers where they came from. Assuming they each pay £20k per year in tax, which is conservative, it has cost the UK £2bn a year in tax alone.

Maybe they hung around long enough to vote out the Tories then left just to laugh from abroad about what we are left with? It's just so hard to tell.