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Why is it that most politicians, especially those in Government, can't understand the problems and motivations of small businesses? They load us down with penal tax rates, red tape and regulatory threat and then exhort us to expand and employ more people, taking up the slack caused by public sector cutbacks.
For example, the Government says it is going to cut red tape and restrictive employment legislation. Sounds great! And then you learn they are rubber-stamping the ludicrous EU regulation allowing employees to claim sick-pay while they're on holiday! Could anyone outside of the mad-house of Brussels or Westminster dream-up a more restrictive, stupid and maliciously motivated attack against small business employers?
Here?s another example: Britain's high streets are slowly emptying of small retailers as they fall prey to the economic disaster bequeathed to us by the economic geniuses of the last Government, ably assisted by the present incompetent incumbents. And what's the Governments response? To raise Business Rates of course! What else would you do to help ease a small family retailer into bankruptcy! So they raises taxes and business rates while our high streets start to resemble 1930's dust bowl America. Brilliant lads - well done! Another great example of 'small-business friendly' policies.
Of course the absolutely brilliant Business Secretary, Vince (Foggy) Cable, gave it all away in a recent interview in the famously business-friendly rag 'The Guardian' when he uttered these words ?it's ridiculous and bizarre? to claim that economic growth can be helped by lower taxes and deregulation.
Perhaps the nations small business-people should bow to Mr Cables vast experience and obviously superior intellect. Because of course we can assume that no Prime Minister worthy of the name would be silly enough to appoint a Business Secretary to the post that didn't have extensive business experience ... surely ... but ... oh maybe not. Turns out Mr Cables? entire business career amounts to 2 years at Shell in the hard-hitting coal-face position of 'Chief Economist' (why Shell required a Chief Economist goodness knows). The rest of Mr Cables? career seems to consist of 'trying to get elected'. For my own interest, can anyone tell me if any other cabinet member has any business experience. In fact is there anyone in the cabinet who is not a career politician with a PPP from Oxford or a law degree from Cambridge? Last one out ... turn out the lights!
By: Alan Jenkins
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pile of s**t on telly anyway these days.
Just make sure you dont let anyone in to your flat.
Try to pretend to be out if they call round and even if they know you're in don't open the door, you're under no obligation to. Same with any other bailiff stuff.
British law was set up by the powerful landed gentry who were landlords to 1,000's of tenants, they tied workers to their businesses with housing so that losing your job meant lose your house, later years have not seen better laws, only laws to ensure good profits.
The rich invest in property as it has the best return per £ invested. Britain needs more houses because the population is increasing, why? because immigration is the new bonanza, semis that used to house 1 family are now sub-divided into 2 and therefore rents double giving the landlord increased capital to buy another house and repeat the process increasingly the banks are jumping on the same bandwaggon and "buy to let" is their new cash cow, those selling houses pursue those houses big enough to sub-divide into 2 homes know the market rate for rents and therefore increase the buying cost which makes 1st time buyers unable to get a stake in the market and fuel the demand.
British law is designed and maintained to support the rich and powerful, all the most powerful people in britain have attained great wealth by exploiting others, they could not work long enough hours or hard enough to earn their fortunes by the sweat of their own brow.
Landlords are not the villains though, they are only playing the game to the rules set out for them by the system.
I keep getting nasty letters from the TV licensing people accusing me of not having a license and practically threatening to send round a bunch of 20 stone skinheads to kneecap me in dark alley if I don't cough up. I have been paying it by standing order for god knows how long.
Word of advice: always tape record significant phone calls; always date and time letters and get proof of delivery if sending hard copy forms. That way you can't be screwed (in theory anyway!).
Don't get me started on Health and Safety legislation. It's just a handy excuse for a lot of bossy, interfering bullies to tell you how to live your life.
Particularly nasty is the way HMRC treats us. You can send in a return on time; it sits on someone's desk for 3 weeks, then they finally open it and log it in as being "late". Then they send you a penalty notice, a £100 fine. They are an utter shambles; almost impossible to speak to on the phone and very patronising when they send you a letter.
As to health & safety; where do I start! I've already had several goes at it on this site so won't repeat myself. I will say that SOME h&s is necessary; but you really don't need a boat on hand when working in a stream 18" deep. (Yes, this happened.)
As a company secretary most of the work I do is for the purposes of collecting taxes, PAYE, NIC and VAT, and at the end of it I'll get bu88er all for a state pension because of my age.
They then get elected after trying a few times in obscure seats, and are miraculously transformed into experts in health, defence, economics, etc.
The days of ex-trade unionists in Labour seats are long gone. The occasional exception are the rare independents.
I would suggest all MP are required to work 10 years in a "real" job before being even considered for election.
All regulation can not be taken away, we know exactly what happens when workers have no rights, they are exploited terribly. So what exactly is it that you don't like.
Mark