Putin Talks Stall
Of course, we were all waiting for President Trump to be elected so that the first thing that would happen would be a phone call to President Putin, and there would be peace in Ukraine within 24 hours. While most of us did not firmly believe this might actually happen, it was certainly a pleasant thought, and even if not within 24 hours, a quick resolution could have been possible. Now it appears it could take a year, which rather underlines the idea that bringing Putin to the negotiating table signals to a man like him that Ukraine is losing and needs a ceasefire. It also may give him the idea that the timing of talks is related to the notion that if the war went on any longer, the other 80% of Ukraine would be his. All of this, of course, smacks of the 1930s and dealing with Hitler, serving as a reminder that any deal, even in a year’s time, might not be worth the paper it is printed on. Neville Chamberlain’s efforts still haunt us all.
A Week of Pain
The Times reminds many of us what we already know but would rather not. Indeed, the only good news on the financial front is that there are still a few days to put money into your ISA—if you have any spare cash. Not many of us do, and the situation is likely to only get worse in the new tax year, given the tsunami of price rises and tax hits to come. This is not only the usual onslaught on the hapless consumer but also employers dealing with National Insurance for employees. It is clear that many have already taken action, and we are feeling the hit in hospitality as well as across the board. There is a “cliff edge,” and it will be interesting to see whether the GDP numbers—so far miraculously on the positive side of the gain line—will be able to defy gravity for much longer.
Gary Stevenson
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. On the face of it, humble lad made good is the pitch for trader Gary Stevenson. He has not only apparently been a massive success in the City, but his book The Trading Game is possibly the most talked about since Prince Harry’s Spare. So much so that our Gary has made it onto Question Time and practically every other forum worth its salt. Of course, you do not get to be big in the City if you are a shrinking violet. Indeed, Mr. Stevenson comes across as the type of person you would not want to meet in a dark alley—or any alley—especially if you are rich. Nevertheless, his latter-day Robin Hood mantra of taking from the rich to give to the poor certainly resonates, and it would resonate even more if there were a way of delivering it without either causing all those with money to leave the country. Presumably, Gary would ensure that even if they did, there would be an exit tax and ongoing reparations for extremely talented people like himself who have managed to make seven or eight figures.
At the heart of the debate he has revitalised are the issues of how successful people keep on getting more successful and how the rest of us seem to get left behind. There is also the point that if you have, say, £20,000 in your First Direct account, that cash is yours. But if you have £10 million, somehow that money should belong to all of us. Those against Mr. Stevenson (at their peril) point out that the middle classes and the rich already pay most of the tax, by definition. Therefore, the debate is seemingly whether if they paid more, it would risk breaking the camel’s back or ideally lead to a situation where pensioners no longer freeze in the winter or you get seen in A&E within 10 minutes. Perhaps we shall never know, given that even the socialist government we have is starting to cut spending, as witnessed by the spring statement. However, Stevenson seems to have a high conviction that he is on the right track, and woe betide anyone who gets in the way of someone who has over a million followers on YouTube.
“Tax wealth, not work” sounds good—very good—if it means that you do not have to fill out your self-assessment form every January or have income tax, capital gains tax, et al. constantly taken from you. If Mr. Stevenson were truly trying to take us to a brave new world, he could argue that anyone worth more than even £1 million would no longer get free NHS healthcare, a state pension, or a bus card. They could even choose to opt out to save others less fortunate than themselves. But it does not appear that we are looking at simply taking more from the rich and giving to the poor—or, as some might say, punishing success and rewarding failure. In the end, when the controversy eventually dies down, Stevenson’s influence may only be as weak or strong as the public decides. Should someone who has been a “success” in one area deserve a hearing on general matters not necessarily related to his own field? If not, we would not be reading the views of many journalists.
WhatsApp Parents
One of the ongoing horrors of our age, particularly in cities, is the increasing threat to personal safety. Knife crime, acid attacks, shootings, sexual assaults, and phone thefts now make up the norm for what it is to live in urban areas. A big difference between now and the 20th century is the absence of bobbies on the beat. However, it would appear that Dixon of Dock Green has not disappeared. Indeed, if you say something inappropriate online, it can be the case that—unlike London buses, where three can appear simultaneously—as many as six police officers turn up at your door.
Alas, this is not to check if one is okay, to see if your home is secure, or even to ask if you have seen anything suspicious—it is to arrest you for criticising the local school. And apparently, it is not about the dinner ladies. Someone has been “casting aspersions” at the Chair of Governors. A couple of points arise from this. First, whether such online interventions—or indeed, 99% of what is said online—should be a police matter. Second, real-world crime is rather more pressing, and one would not wish to think that the police are merely going for the low-hanging fruit and much safer fare than investigating a “private” WhatsApp message. However, one would not wish to discuss the matter any further, lest the boys and girls in blue knock at the door.
