Dan Grey

The map on the left shades constituencies by % of top council tax band properties (Band H in England, Band H and I in Wales)

The map on the right shades by median house prices.

Very different maps. That's the problem with council tax.

If the EV road charge is set at 3p per mile tomorrow, that's about the same as adding 25p per litre to fuel duty.

Let that sink in.

How much *time* would trials without juries actually save?

Genuinely don't know. I thought MoT test too, but hadn't thought about the three years thing.

For some cars it's trivially easy to fit a mileage blocker. I know it is on BMWs. The car's ECUs still record the true mileage but what's on the screen does not

I wonder if the OBR will stop including it in their forecast or stick with "but it's government policy...".

Fourteen years guys. That's how long it's been since it was last implemented. Fourteen years

I reckon this will be announced tomorrow for starting in 2028/29 or even 29/30 in order to make the end of Reeves's budget break even.

But it will actually stop EV sales in their tracks; yes, EVs will still be much cheaper to drive if you can drive at home but all people will hear is "new tax"

If the EV road charge is set at 3p per mile tomorrow, that's about the same as adding 25p per litre to fuel duty.

Let that sink in.

I think Killing Eve actually. First season written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge was brilliant; after that it was awful.

Controversial take: The Expanse after the first season and a half. Show clearly had a big budget cut when it was taken on by Amazon too.

Trouble with FAMK was moving from an alternative but very relatable history to full future sci-fi. That was always going to be an awkward transition.

Second and third seasons were awesome, especially the third (which is more akin to 10 hour film; it's best watched with as few breaks as possible).

Fourth season was awful ☹️.

Budget live updates: Packaged milkshakes and lattes to be included in sugar tax for first time in UK The changes mean packaged, sugary milk drinks will get more expensive - unless their sugar content is cut below the threshold.

"The changes - to begin on 1 January 2028"

TWENTY TWENTY-EIGHT. Two years. Two years to make a simple tax change.

This is Tory level of obvious stupidity

'Transport secretary Heidi Alexander rejected a rival proposal from Arora Group, saying Heathrow’s own plans were "the most credible and deliverable option"'

Literally the opposite; as if putting a 12 lane motorway into a tunnel or a tight S bend is easier than building a shorter runway instead

Surprise surprise.

The attraction of Substack is the option for a paywall, if your writing is good enough, plus it's probably a bit easier to get started on that platform (less set-up)

I possibly didn't notice that your new blog is on a different platform!

While I suspect people are bit more likely to "subscribe" to a Substack than to "get new post notifications" on wordpress, I don't think either generate much organic growth.

You really don't like your ex-colleagues do you

Rank desperation!

"Rachel Reeves is still expected to announce a controversial pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles in the Budget."

I'm sure that will boost fragile EV sales and not absolutely tank them just when we need them to rise as quickly as possible.

Not. At. All.

Goverment pledges £1.3bn to EV grants but will still tax pay-per-mile The Chancellor is still expected to announce a controversial pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles in the Budget on Wednesday.

This afternoon the government has again been briefing a tax on driving electric vehicles.

Brilliant 🤦.

Aren't you Free Thinking Economist?

It's actually at least 18 changes; I missed scaling back/scrapping ECO, which funds insulation and low-carbon technologies for poorer households.

The last person to make such a cut was David Cameron, when he told ministers to "cut the green crap"

In recent years I've watched:

–The China Syndrome (1979
–Edge of Darkness (1985)
–Chernobyl (2019)

What's remarkable is all of them get the science and engineering *right*, often surprisingly so.

It seems to be slipping out of public consciousness just how hazardous nuclear material is.

UK most expensive place to develop nuclear power, report says Experts criticise “overly complex” rules and call for an overhaul of Britain's nuclear strategy.

Nuclear power is expensive because it's *extremely dangerous*. It takes a vast amount of money, resources, time and effort to reduce the risk it poses to a level that our democracies have judged to be safe.

People seem to be slowly forgetting just how unforgiving and devastating nuclear can be.

Of course we can't have nice things; sensible evidence-based tax changes that would increase economic growth and tax revenue (Not Invented Here syndrome?)

Instead we're going to get a smorgasbord, hokey-cokey budget of small fixes and fiddles that will only add bureaucracy and complication.

7/7

Or, indeed, by a whole bunch of respectable think tanks (CenTax, IPPR, JRF, CPS, TPA, NEF, Adam Smith)
centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...

6/

'Twelve pro-growth, pro-fairness tax proposals to fill the budget black hole' - LabourList Twelve pro-growth, pro-fairness ideas for Rachel Reeves that would bring in tens of billions in much needed revenue.

Or by Labour List

5/

The tax longlist - 35 ways Rachel Reeves could raise £22bn Rachel Reeves has said there is a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances, and that she’ll have to raise tax to fill it. Labour are heavily constrained by their pre-election promises…

Or by Dan Neidle (pre last autumn's budget but comprehensive)

4/

Mirrlees Review of tax system recommends radical changes - Nuffield Foundation Britain’s tax system is ripe for reform in ways that could significantly increase people’s welfare and improve the performance of the economy, according to a landmark review chaired by the Nobel laure...

–"Raiding" Warm Homes Plan budget
–Cliff-edge, Hunt-style, resource departmental expenditure limits after 2029

None of which are sensible pro-growth reforms such as those proposed by Mirlees 15 years ago

3/