... and the sleaze goes on ...

People who aren’t interested in politics shouldn’t have a vote, it’s completely wasted on them and endangers the country

MaizieD I assume you would like to turn the clock back to pre-suffrage when only the Landed Gentry had a vote, not very democratic?

GrannyGravy13

I do think Lemongrove has a very valid point inasmuch most people just want the Government to do whatever it takes to get the population vaccinated and UK businesses open.

They want to things to get back to pre-Covid, to meet up with friends or family for a coffee, meal or a drink in their local.

So do you "know" that "most people" wanted to run our public services down so that we were unprepared for the forecast pandemic? I don't think "most people" do want a self-serving government whose mates make money while others are dying. But, as yet, I don't actually know and neither do you.

PippaZ

GrannyGravy13

I do think Lemongrove has a very valid point inasmuch most people just want the Government to do whatever it takes to get the population vaccinated and UK businesses open.

They want to things to get back to pre-Covid, to meet up with friends or family for a coffee, meal or a drink in their local.

So do you "know" that "most people" wanted to run our public services down so that we were unprepared for the forecast pandemic? I don't think "most people" do want a self-serving government whose mates make money while others are dying. But, as yet, I don't actually know and neither do you.

I can only speak as I find, people coming into our Trade Counter, Company Reps, long standing customers, talking to people on the till at various supermarkets ...

One common phrase, lets just get back to normal, whatever it takes

apologies that should read aim as opposed to phrase

Here's the actual letter.

"HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ

Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, Chair, Treasury Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

9 April 2020

Dear Mel,

As you will no doubt be aware, the Treasury has been at the forefront of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing the necessary fiscal stimulus to protect jobs, businesses and households. I am writing to outline a proposed change to the tax legislation to allow highly skilled individuals from across the world to come to the UK and help us respond to this unprecedented health emergency. We welcome the expertise and resource from those who wish to come to the UK to combat COVID-19, from anaesthetists through to engineers working on ventilator design and production. Under normal circumstances, the actions and presence of these individuals in the UK could affect their own tax residence status, potentially bringing their global earnings within the purview of UK taxation.

We will amend the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) to ensure that any period(s) between 1 March and 1 June 2020 spent in the UK by individuals working on COVID-19 related activities will not count towards the residence tests. It is right that these changes are time limited and only support those people whose skillsets are currently required. The qualifying criteria will therefore be designed so that the relaxation of the rules is tightly targeted, minimising the risk of abuse. We will also keep the duration of this measure under review as the situation develops, in line with the other support already provided.

The Government remains committed to tackling tax avoidance and to ensuring compliance with tax legislation. At the most recent Budget, I announced a package of measures to clamp down on aggressive tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance that will raise an additional £4.7bn between now and 2024-25.

This measure will provide flexibility and support to those coming to work in the UK to serve the national cause. This measure is required in response to extraordinary circumstances and the Government remains committed to the framework of the SRT and to ensuring that all individuals pay their fair share of tax. Further details on the eligibility and scope will be provided in due course and this change will be legislated in the forthcoming Finance Bill to take effect from 1 March 2020.

[signed]

Rishi Sunak"

I had a look at the finance bill summary and didn't notice any thing about the temporary changes to SRT

One common phrase, lets just get back to normal, whatever it takes.

Sadly, for me, and for a great many people, 'normal' includes a government that is reasonably honourable and not dripping with sleaze and corruption.

MaizieD

^One common phrase, lets just get back to normal, whatever it takes.^

Sadly, for me, and for a great many people, 'normal' includes a government that is reasonably honourable and not dripping with sleaze and corruption.

And for me, add a properly constructed parliament not one that keeps granting itself emergency powers.

MaizieD

^One common phrase, lets just get back to normal, whatever it takes.^

Sadly, for me, and for a great many people, 'normal' includes a government that is reasonably honourable and not dripping with sleaze and corruption.

I have repeatedly posted that I am not in support of all this Governments actions/dealings.

I can only post what I hear at ground level and at the moment it is folks wanting to see family/friends whenever/however they want, wanting to go out to the cinema, pub or restaurant (if in a financial position to do so. Others are worrying if their jobs are secure, worrying about paying mortgage/rent along with putting food on the table and hoping that there will be no further disruption to their children’s education.

I have repeatedly posted that I am not in support of all this Governments actions/dealings.

I know you have, GG13, and believe me, your honesty in that regard is very much appreciated.

GrannyGravy13

Statista.com has the UK at 11 in the world for per capita Covid deaths. keepingquiet I have just this minute checked.

Lemongrove I think you are correct in your last sentence, the man/women in the street just want normal, not new normal or any hybrid normal, just plain and simple old normal.

So we are only 11th in the world now? I'm glad that makes you feel better.
Not everyone is as serious as me? Not all those who have lost family and friends? They must be laughing their socks off. I would rather be serious than heartless...

Thanks for quoting the letter Dinahmo, showing once again the ability of some on here to make up answers to suit their point of view (now where have we seen that before?)

The government did, indeed, bring in a “concession” on the tax rules for a period. Under the "Emergency Powers", it was reported to but not discussed or voted on, by Parliament.

I think it would be good if posters ensured all sources are reliable and didn't just makeup "facts" to suit their argument.

Lemongrove do you never ever have anything but praise for the PM and his government ?

I’d prefer a different party to be in power but am not blind to the faults of, say, Starmer.

PippaZ

Thanks for quoting the letter Dinahmo, showing once again the ability of some on here to make up answers to suit their point of view (now where have we seen that before?)

The government did, indeed, bring in a “concession” on the tax rules for a period. Under the "Emergency Powers", it was reported to but not discussed or voted on, by Parliament.

I think it would be good if posters ensured all sources are reliable and didn't just makeup "facts" to suit their argument.

This article makes it clear that Rishi fixed it for Jim on the instructions of the PM. Privileged texting came before amending the tax rules.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/21/boris-johnson-says-he-will-publish-text-messages-to-james-dyson

The only way Tory voters can continue to support this utterly corrupt Vote Leave Government is to be completely blind and deaf to the facts presented to them.

They just keep reading The Telegraph. The Daily Mail, The Express and The Sun and never question what they are being told to believe.

This government can literally get away with anything.

Oh dear God!

I’ve just watched Johnson prattling on to the world at the Climate Summit.

It was toe curlingly dreadful.

I think you’re wrong varian. We’ve gone through an unprecedented period over the last year, which has resulted in people being forced to give up their normal lives, leaving less headspace for other things. As the country returns to normal operation the 60% of people who take an interest in politics will resume those interests, including making their minds up based on a range of media reports and their own investigation into the elements that interest them. It’s already starting with the news coverage stepping up, there’s a sense that the COVID news is reducing and other issues are coming to the fore.

I would love to be wrong Casdon

But I am rapidly becoming an old cynic. I no longer regard this country as a functioning democracy.

Sky has obtained more documents under FoI but very redacted. These after a heap from the Bank of England this afternoon. Seems to be a lot of Cameron's comments that are blocked out.

Now talking about a row over the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat.

Sorry, should have said the new, heavily redacted, documents came from the Government.

Of course people want to get back to some sort of normality but once they've achieved that we have to hope that they turn their thoughts to other topics, including politics.

The behaviour of the present govt has been appalling. Yes, they did all they could to ensure that the country got a vaccine quickly but don't forget it was rolled out by the NHS. Commissioning and paying for a vaccine is the only thing that the govt has achieved, as far as I can see. No cronyism involved. Given the govt's track record with test and trace, they aren't exactly the bees knees when it comes to organising a vaccine rollout.

I have read, don't ask me where because it was a long time ago in the present scheme of things, that the pharmaceutical companies insisted upon a no liability clause for the vaccines. This means that should there be later reactions they cannot be held liable.

What is now taking place in these threads is reminiscent of Brexit - people who support this govt will ignore whatever evidence is placed before them, even when it is detrimental.

Apparently it was Cummings wat done it.

Leaking to press that is.

Who cares? Not convinced he has left no 10 anyway.

wot

Just received this email from The Good Law Project:

"Explosive emails revealed in a hearing on our legal challenge over direct awards of PPE contracts show civil servants raising the alarm that they were "drowning in VIP requests" from political connections that do not have “the correct certification or pass due diligence”.

One email shows a civil servant warning that when VIPs “jump to the front of the queue it then has a knock-on effect to the remaining offers of help."

For ordinary people, the pandemic was a tragedy. But for well-connected VIPs it was the chance of a lifetime - huge fortunes were up for grabs. What this civil servant is saying is that it became more of a tragedy because so many VIPs - overwhelmingly introduced by Ministers - were interfering with civil servants’ ability to purchase the PPE needed by healthcare workers on the frontline.

Remember Ayanda, the company linked to Liz Truss, fast-tracked through the VIP Lane - who supplied £155m worth of unusable face masks to the NHS frontline? This email shows Ayanda threatening to escalate their bid to ministerial level and another includes a civil servant warning of the Ayanda deal “the bar seems to have been lowered on this one.”

This is the cost of cronyism - good administration suffers, efficient buying of PPE suffers.

Government has been doing everything it can to keep a lid on the names of VIP contacts and those responsible for putting them in the VIP lane. We went to Court today, along with our co-claimants EveryDoctor, to try and force them to disclose this information.

So far, Government has provided partial and incoherent evidence, heavily redacted. And key items are missing from the evidence we’ve received - in particular no Whatsapp messages, text messages, file notes or submissions to ministers are included. If ministers were pushing civil servants to prioritise PPE contracts to politically connected suppliers, then this information is highly relevant to the case.

The Judge agreed that the identity of an individual can be relevant and should be publicly available if they were involved in the procurement or had a significant role to play in decision-making, in particular on companies referred to the VIP Lane. But she has said we will need to ask for specific disclosure of details on specific documents.

We'll be back in Court next week with that application. The fight for truth and transparency continues. You can read our skeleton argument and the evidence disclosed in Court today in full. "

There is so much evidence coming to light and yet still some GNers appear not to be bothered by the cronyism and sleaze.

So what! They always get away with it

GrannyGravy13

Statista.com has the UK at 11 in the world for per capita Covid deaths. keepingquiet I have just this minute checked.

Lemongrove I think you are correct in your last sentence, the man/women in the street just want normal, not new normal or any hybrid normal, just plain and simple old normal.

We are lower than 11 (at 13) it seems to me but the problem is that most other countries (with the exception of Italy) who have a higher death toll have small populations - Gibraltar for example - so one death is disproportionately significant.

Germany has about half our number of deaths per million population and is a comparable country. Italy, which was the “guinea pig” of the pandemic in Europe has only a couple more deaths than we do. We have handled the pandemic very very badly. We are fortunate that the vaccine has been rolled out so well.

This (image attached) is a screenshot from Worldometer which draws from over 5,000 sources.
Here’s where they get the info from:
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/about/#sources