One of the perpetual obsessions of the right wing of politics is law and order. It is they argue the fundamental duty of the state to defend the citizen, and even more importantly, their property from all assaults from criminal wrong-doers. And I have to say I see a lot of good reason for thinking that true. But they drop that demand
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As the FT reports: Brussels is threatening to sue Britain unless ministers significantly alter a landmark tax deal with Switzerland, in a dispute that will cast doubt over the £4bn to £7bn of expected proceeds for the Treasury. European Commission lawyers concluded that the bilateral deal, which recovers billions of unpaid taxes in return for protecting
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In the latest BBC 5 Live / ComRes opinion poll there’s some fascinating data, none more than this in response to the question ’Which of the following do you think has the GREATEST INFLUENCE on the future of the UK economy?’ The polling was this: What does that say? Simply that despite the pernicious and harmful influence of banks, and despite
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Jackie Ashley made a profound comment in the Guardian this morning: Do the political classes have what it takes? Privately the Bank of England high command thinks the eurozone is bound to fail, which could make what we are going through look almost benign. As the coalition unveils its pro-growth Plan P (for panic) this
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I well remember when George Osborne said if only the UK was more like Ireland all its problems would be solved. Oh for the heady days of 2006, eh, George? When you wrote in The Times of the “Irish miracle” that  “stands as a shining example of the art of the possible in long-term economic policymaking”. Think what a
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It would be terribly convenient for the right wing and big business to argue that fuss over directors’ pay was all left wing, and driven by the High Pay Commission. But that’s not true. As the FT reports this morning: Shareholders and industry trade bodies have thrown their weight behind calls for radical reform to
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With thanks to False Economy, via #occupylsx. And for the record, if that means I pay more tax, so be it.

The following statement was posted on the #occupylsx  blog this morning: Initial statement of Corporations Policy Group ratified by Occupy London’s General Assembly Occupy London asks corporations to engage in dialogue working together to create a socially responsible and sustainable economic system. Initial statement of the Corporations Working Group, as passed by the OccupyLSX General Assembly
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You can say it’s small beer that council tax is not being paid on more than half of the flats on One Hyde Park, the most expensive development in London and maybe the world. But it’s not. That’s because, as the Observer reports: Only nine of the 62 apartments sold in One Hyde Park – the
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