National politics

[Hugo]

Hammy, the advantage of the paper tax discs was that they were a visible deterrent to road tax dodgers,   The Police, Traffic Wardens and the general public could see straight away if the car's tax was out of date
Traffic Wardens would check the times of cars parking and view the tax disc at the same and if the car tax was out of date then the Wardens or Police could issue a penalty notice.

The present system is seriously flawed, why else would the Exchequer be short of well over ?100 million pounds in unpaid road tax each year?       The advancement of IT means that we can never go back to the previous paper system but the rules and regulations should be updated in order to cope with these dishonest people.
You mention ANPR cameras, well these are the facts:-   
There are only 4 Police Traffic cars fitted with the ANPR cameras in the whole of North Wales
The whole length of the A55 does not have one ANPR or even the Vulture camera on it.   The cameras you see are all speed cameras ( info supplied to me by the NWP )
The cameras at Glan Conwy and Craig Y Don must be speed cameras only,    I cannot see them being ANPR camera as a Police car would have to be in position there 24/7 and that would not be viable

The only way to stop people driving without road tax is to seize their cars in order for them to stop doing it   But the problem in part rests with outdated rules and regulations.       For instance, even if the car is untaxed or has no MOT neither the Police or the DVLA can enter someone's garden or drive to seize the offending vehicle
It's utter nonsense
The DVLA should have other methods of enforcement such as Bailiffs and the County Court but are not effective in either enforcement apparently so we are stuck with a system that is leaking hundreds of millions of pounds each year and at a time when we can least afford it

[Helig]

I agree that the change to paperless tax discs is costing the exchequer a substantial amount of money. There are few, or no, ANPR cameras in Scotland, at least on the roads in Dumfries and Galloway. They don't have any speed cameras either. I think some of the police vehicles are fitted with these as someone told me he was stopped for not having an MOT. It turned out he had bought the car recently and the garage didn't give him one with it.

HMRC used to have an unofficial policy to go easy on MPs and government ministers (amongst other public officials and royals). I used to work with someone who was the head of the department (PD1) that dealt with the tax affairs of MPs, ministers, royals etc. He told me that they had special treatment and he leaked details of how one government minister (Tory) was allowed to get away with a massive tax evasion. Nothing happened to the minister but he was swiftly removed from PDI.

There would be people capable to taking on Boris but the political influence, or will, wouldn't permit it.

[Hugo]

The ordinary worker on Paye like hairdressers, postmen,  people in the hospitality industry etc etc pay tax on any tips they get yet a career liar like Boris gets all the perks going tax free.     Last I heard about him was that he was "sofa surfing" well not as we know it but staying in friends houses or mansions as he didn't have a place to live in.    I wish that HMRC would investigate tax evasion more

I've just read the Daily Mirror today and Boris Johnson is now living in a 20 million home for free
Inside is an article about Rishi Sunak's private jet trip to visit a Health care centre in Leeds, all at the taxpayer's expense,    Yes we're all in it together!   

[SteveH]

Interesting article

Denbighshire councillors sign letter urging income tax rise
COUNTY councillors in Denbighshire and Conwy have signed a letter from the Wales Green Party addressed to the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, appealing for an increase in income tax in the country.

Cllrs Jon Harland (Prestatyn Central ward) and Martyn Hogg (St Asaph East ward) of Denbighshire County Council were among the letter?s signatories.

Also signing the letter were party leader Anthony Slaughter, and his deputies, Ammi Kaur-Dhaliwal and Helen Westhead.

The Senedd has had powers granted to allow Wales to set its own rates of income tax since April 2019.

Full article https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23244448.denbighshire-councillors-sign-letter-urging-income-tax-rise/

[Helig]

Boris's latest freebie. It seems there are doubts about the true rental value of house he is staying in rent free. He has entered it is ?10,000 a month in the Register of Interests but a similar home is being offered for rent at ?30,000 a month. Will this be investigated I wonder?

He has his friend Lord Bamford (plus Lady Bamford) to thank for this. It is yet another benefit they have provided for him.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/shameless-boris-johnson-living-20m-28922635

[Hugo]

Recently we have had a discussion on CCBC writing off money due to the ratepayers and I posted this comment  "Credit where credit is due so well done Cllr Mandy Hawkins for saying "This Section 106 money should absolutely not be discharged. It is, after all, a legally binding contract"
I also mentioned that Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London waived an amount of money that the developer had agreed to pay in lieu of building affordable housing.   The link attached mentions the 25K that I spoke about in an earlier posting and shows what is going on in Tory politics

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-brothers-boris-johnson-offices-162953081.html

[SteveH]

Welsh Government should fight for new investment zones
Welsh Ministers should fight hard to ensure that two of the four zones announced in the Budget come to Wales

While the headlines were about the improvements in childcare and changes to pension rules to bring more people back into the workplace, the measures with the potential to change the future of the UK economy were largely hidden in the small print. One of the positive highlights was the commitment to support growth in the sectors of the future. Whether this is another rehashed industrial strategy in all but name will be up to others to debate.

However, it was heartening to see a clear statement of intent to provide real and tangible support for advanced manufacturing, the creative industries, digital technologies, green industries, and life sciences. In particular, the admittance that the UK needs to invest more in research and innovation infrastructure, especially in improving computing capability to maximise opportunities in artificial intelligence and boost critical areas such as health and climate change, is long overdue.

The commitment to investing ?2.5 billion over the next decade into quantum technologies will also ensure that the UK develops a world class capability in one of the most important emerging sciences that has the capability to transform entire industries.

Whilst levelling-up remains a key part of the Government?s drive to spread economic prosperity to every part of the UK, it can be argued that much of the spending to date has been very much hit and miss, with no clear strategy as to how these funds will impact on improving productivity across the nation.

cont https://www.business-live.co.uk/opinion-analysis/welsh-government-should-fight-new-26494624?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

Boris Johnson's legal fees could cost taxpayer more than ?222,000, says top civil servant
The former PM is entitled to money from the public purse as he faces an investigation over whether he misled parliament about partygate, and he has already spent over ?200,000 on advice from lawyers.

I wonder if he is found guilty over misleading Parliament would Boris then have to pay his own solicitor's costs?


https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnsons-legal-fees-could-cost-taxpayer-more-than-222-000-says-top-civil-servant-12795939

[SteveH]

STRENGTHENING North Wales? links with Ireland and North West England is vitally important to take advantage of new opportunities, First Minister Mark Drakeford will say today (May 18).

He will welcome the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram and Consul General of Ireland Denise McQuade for a historic meeting with Welsh Government ministers and local authority leaders in North Wales.

The visitors will have a chance to see the innovative work taking place at the advanced manufacturing facility, AMRC Cymru in Broughton, and to tour the Port of Mostyn to understand more about potential opportunities at the site and along the North Wales coast.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23530398.historic-cross-border-meeting-set-strengthen-working-relations/

[Cambrian]

A Damascene moment in the life of the First Minister ?  We may get through TfW trains to Crewe next and keep the Llandudno-Manchester service.

[SteveH]

Metro Mayor?s hopes for cross-border force for good
The Liverpool City Region has the opportunity to create a ?real force for good? by strengthening ties with cross border partners in Wales and Ireland according to the area?s Metro Mayor.

Steve Rotherham said the North West, North Wales and Ireland can create a collective ?powerhouse? by forging lasting partnerships as he joined with ministers and officials for a meeting on how the three areas can strengthen their economic and cultural ties. Mr Rotheram alongside Andy Burnham ? Mayor of Greater Manchester ? met with First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford and Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for North Wales for a series of engagements and discussions on how to develop cross border relationships.

With Counsel General of Ireland, Denise McQuade, the panel held a press conference in Venue Cymru, Llandudno, outlining how they would look to move forward together. Mr Rotheram said the visit to North Wales built on the trip to Ireland he and Mr Burnham took in March last year and represented an opportunity to work more closely with the Welsh Government.

Acknowledging Liverpool?s cultural role as ?the second capital of North Wales,? Mr Rotheram said officials? eyes had been opened to the possibilities of collaborative work, through industries like advanced manufacturing and technology. The Metro Mayor said work on this scale between the North West and North Wales had never been done before and said it is ?the right time because devolution is much more embedded in the Liverpool City Region.?

cont https://www.birkenhead.news/metro-mayors-hopes-for-cross-border-force-for-good/?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


Mark Drakeford says the 'let's build a road' attitude to solve road congestion can't continue in a climate emergency. The First Minister today held a meeting with political leaders from Ireland and the North West of England about strengthening economic connections between the nations and regions.

They highlighted the close relationship between North Wales the North West - with thousands travelling across the border each day - often leaving bottlenecks and congestion on key routes.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mark-drakeford-says-lets-build-26944464
cont

[Hugo]

Boris Johnson unveiled as new Daily Mail columnist

I'm sure that Ian will be pleased that Boris has joined his favourite newspaper the DFM



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65930008

[Ian]

Best place for a confirmed liar, cheat, coward and all round egotist.

[Hugo]

When is a party not a party Boris?




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65941549

[Hugo]

The vote in the House of Commons tomorrow should be interesting, Michael Gove has already said that he will abstain from voting



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65941549