UK is not alone in its views about the EU: Greenland left the EEC Iceland has withdrawn its application to join the EU Norway opinion polls show less public enthusiasm to join (currently 25-30% yes) Switzerland has withdrawn its application to join the EU Let’s join #EFTA

'Gingerbread men with chocolate trousers incur value-added tax (VAT) worth 20%, but no tax is charged on those with chocolate only for their eyes.' Britain's taxes aren't unusually high - but they are freakishly complex, @TheEconomist says: economist.com/britain/2026/1…

Here he is just 4 months ago, singing a quite different tune to fool the Leave-voters of Makerfield👇🏼

How tight is that? Charging your adult children rent!!! ft.com/content/f6822633-7357…

I never thought I’d read something like this in The Economist.

He also mentioned an analysis by BiGGAR Economics that was commissioned by @SCISschools, the Scottish Council of Independent Schools. Not only did it suggest a net loss of £16m to the public finances this year, it estimates that figure could grow to £181m over time.

Refusing to drill for our own North Sea oil but then buying the exact same North Sea oil from Norway makes Britain the virtual-signalling, eco-nut capital of the world

I urged the Government to reassess its education tax which has led to 30,000 children having to leave independent schools and dozens of schools having to close. This is the result of a divisive policy based on ideology rather than diversity and choice.

Annual energy bills around the world Austria- £470 Belgium - £520 France - £485 Germany - £550 Israel - £590 Norway - £460 Poland - £150 Spain - £495 United Kingdom - £2,325 Net stupid zero strikes again. #NetZero

The comments on this are quite the best on X for a long time. Kinda restores your faith in British humour/realism.

give the camera operator a raise and give it to them by end of business day today

Irish President Catherine Connolly shoved Trump behind the smallest desk she could find and my God, she understood the entire fucking assignment. What a legend!

Hayle community pays tribute to 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla.

That's about 27,000 households worth of tax... Well done Labour.

In 1975 life expectancy was 72, the state pension was 25% of average salary and the proportion of NHS spend on retirees was 25%. Now we get to 84, state pension is 35% and NHS spend on retirees is around 50%. It is fabulous that we’re living longer, truly, but it’s expensive.

Burnham seeks to reassure bond markets amid public spending fears ft.trib.al/PtCSaUm

Oh dear! ft.com/content/55ea0ee5-d067…

What do graduates earn - by uni and by subject? HMG knows, but only publishes a redacted and unreadable LEO database. FWIW here's my attempts at a grad-salary reader (which I used for my Times column today): frasernelson.com/leo/

Why is education, around the world, generally exempt from VAT? Because education is a merit good – something governments want to encourage, not discourage. It's an investment in our young people, the skills our economy needs and our future. And, that's why education was VAT exempt in the UK until two years ago, and why books, uni tuition and many other educational services still are. Whether VAT on private school fees raises billions or nothing at all misses the point. Education should never be taxed. @JohnHealey_MP Find a better way to fund our public services. Scrap VAT on school fees. #FindABetterWay #EducationNotTax