... and the sleaze goes on ...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

apologies that should read aim as opposed to phrase

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

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.

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?

Most of the country is not interested in politics MaizieD but they still have every right to vote, yes even the common man who never watches PMQ’s.

MaizieD

lemongrove

Well, rodney they would, wouldn’t they?? The opposition parties, the clue is in the name.

The reason that they are doing it is because your man cannot open his mouth without telling a lie.

This is a fact; it is the truth. If it were not true a lot of people would be facing libel and slander proceedings now. But Bozo can't do that because they are the people who are telling the truth. Not him.

Peter Oborne has even published a whole book full Bozo's lies. The law of libel cannot touch him.

Not only lacking a sense of smell but completely devoid of any moral compass whatsoever.

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

I should clarify, your last sentence in the above post.

MaizieD ?have you been reading The Daily Star again? All the Bozo comments, it’s been on their front page online every day this last year, and yet...the Conservatives are riding high in the polls.Strange eh?
Your last sentence is rather chilling, sounds rather Communist or Fascist sort of ‘think’.

In the tense atmosphere last year over the need to provide ventilators all avenues were being explored.

So that is why actual ventilator manufacturers were not given orders?

Like this one?

thenantwichnews.co.uk/2020/03/24/nantwich-firm-blasts-government-over-delay-after-offering-5000-ventilators/

And there were plenty more like that.

Did Bozo really think that a mechanical digger company and a vacuum cleaner company could do better than actual ventilator manufacturers?

People have to be completely naive to believe a story like that.

lemongrove

Well, rodney they would, wouldn’t they?? The opposition parties, the clue is in the name.

The reason that they are doing it is because your man cannot open his mouth without telling a lie.

This is a fact; it is the truth. If it were not true a lot of people would be facing libel and slander proceedings now. But Bozo can't do that because they are the people who are telling the truth. Not him.

Peter Oborne has even published a whole book full Bozo's lies. The law of libel cannot touch him.

Not only lacking a sense of smell but completely devoid of any moral compass whatsoever.

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

Well, rodney they would, wouldn’t they?? The opposition parties, the clue is in the name.

The leaders of six opposition parties call out Johnson's failre to tell the truth.

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.

GrannyGravy...they do not want valid points.?

It didn’t go ahead Kali so, no.
Dyson wanted to protect his employees from the burden of extra tax if he brought them back to the UK to make ventilators for the government.
I think that both Starmer and the GN members on this thread who routinely shout ‘sleaze!’ ( as long as it’s only Tory sleaze of course) need to find another story to shout about.

Perhaps keepingquiet everyone isn’t as serious as you, and thinks that getting themselves and their families through this, and able to meet and hug again, and allow some pleasure such as a meal in a pub garden or a coffee with good friends into their lives is a wonderful thing after the last year.For businesses to start making a profit again and for children to be in school and students in universities. In short, for life to go on in a similar fashion to before.
Most people do not care about politics or politicians, it’s as simple as that.

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.

Is that all? We've been through a pandemic and have the highest per capita death rate on the planet with 130,000 dead and all we want is to go for a coffee and a pint at the pub?
What a morally desolate country I live in.

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.

I have just found this.

MaizieD

I'm afraid that lemongrove has no sense of smell.

I think your last two words of the sentence are superfluous.