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With Bio-Waste Spreader: "In the wake of chancellor Rachel Reeves's tax-raising budget, which included the controversial halving of farmland's relief from inheritance tax (IHT), she has now declared the government will ‘not be coming back' with additional taxes on businesses. This is a shame, as she has now denied herself the opportunity to scrap the tax loophole relating to farmland that really needed closing…”
With M.D.: "Labour's plans to fix adult social care, and crucially the funding to go with it, have been postponed until 2028. ‘Critical issues and medium-term improvements' will at least be identified by 2026, by an independent commission chaired by Baroness (Louise) Casey. The Dilnot commission declared social care provision to be inadequate, unfair and unsustainable in 2011, and came up with eminently sensible funding proposals which were ignored…”
With Dr B Ching: "‘East West Rail essentially is a jobs, growth and housing project,' Department for Transport rail services director Alex Hynes informed the Commons transport committee on 11 December, shortly before new accounts revealed impressive growth in jobs at, er, East West Railway Company Ltd. In 2016 Tory transport secretary Chris Grayling announced the creation of EWRC as a government company in the same mould as HS2 Ltd; both companies reflected the Tories' insistence that fragmentation gets things done quicker and cheaper…”
With Remote Controller: "While Netflix had hoped, with the second series of reality TV drama Squid Game, to break viewing records set by the first series, the South Korean behemoth was not the streamer's most-watched post-Christmas show in the UK. That accolade went instead to Crackling Birchwood Fireplace (which was also No 1 in Canada and No 2 in the US). While it might not be an impossible title for an indie movie by Wes Anderson or Paul Thomas Anderson, this is in fact…”
With Old Sparky: "Last month a second seasonal Dunkelflaute episode hit Northern Europe, creating ‘dark doldrums' and greatly reducing solar and wind power. It strongly suggests the UK government's policy – of increasing dependence on renewable electricity generation and cross-border interconnectors – will not help stabilise wholesale electricity prices as ministers claim. More likely, the exact opposite…”
With Lunchtime O'Boulez: "Problems continue for jazz saxophonist Martin Speake, who had come under attack last year for questioning the inclusivity agenda at the London music college where he taught and the claims of Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists (see Eye 1620). This led to a breakdown in his health; and O'Boulez is sorry to report that he now has no work and no income, and is trying to crowdfund a legal action against the college for constructive dismissal…”
With Slicker: "Chancellor Rachel Reeves travels to Beijing this week in a bid to boost financial services business with China, despite recent spy and hacking accusations as well as other hostile Chinese activities, such as the suspected cutting of Baltic undersea cables. But none of that matters when it comes to the hunt for elusive economic growth. Western politicians never learn when it comes to dealing with authoritarian regimes – remember Russian gas?…”
Letter from Kampala
From Our Own Correspondent: "They say that he who takes power through the barrel of the gun will only relinquish office at gunpoint. It certainly seems to be the case here in Uganda, where octogenarian president Yoweri Museveni (M7 for short) has ruled unchallenged since seizing power in 1986. Although many are tired of his unbroken rule and the tide of entitled mediocrity it brings, even his greatest detractors…”