ALEX BRUMMER: All that Lady Thatcher achieved will now go up in flames like an oil drum brazier on a picket line...
's Employment Rights Bill, hurtling its way onto the statute books, threatens to turn Britain's economy back 50 years. Then, the all-powerful trade unions brought the nation to a shuddering halt, offering a foretaste of what is to come over the next few years as Labour's Bill will light the match for widespread strikes.
The potential damage to an already stuttering economy, weighed down by the Chancellor's growth-sapping £40 billion of tax rises, doesn't bear thinking about.
Passage of the Bill – a project long cherished by former union chieftain Rayner – would be a shattering blow to the bitterly won reforms of the 1980s. Margaret Thatcher 's embrace of lower taxes and the free market, and her crushing of union power, ushered in decades of rising living standards and prosperity.
That Tory legacy, unchallenged by the 1997 Blair-Brown government, is set to go up in flames, like an oil drum brazier on a picket line.
We have already seen how Chancellor Rachel Reeves 's award of inflation-busting pay rises to railwaymen, NHS staff, employees across the public sector – without any productivity agreements – have done nothing to assuage the greed of some workers.
Resident doctors are leading the charge, their sense of grievance and entitlement stoked by the rabidly Leftist union, the British Medical Association.
Barely a day now passes without union groups threatening to bring vital sectors of the economy to a standstill, from oil rigs and trains to healthcare.
As a young financial journalist in the 1970s, I witnessed firsthand the appalling damage done to Britain by unchecked union power. As inflation soared after the 1973 oil embargo imposed by Arab countries, the Labour government was bombarded with demands for double-digit pay increases.
Binmen let the streets of London pile up with rat-infested rubbish, and quaysides were stacked with essential imports waiting to be loaded onto lorries, as dock workers joined in the chorus of strikes. It would be wrong for me to suggest that anything so calamitous is approaching.
The cold embrace of the IMF seems a long way off. However, the spectre of a general strike, which Angela Rayner's Bill brings us closer to, will jangle nerves in boardrooms and the Treasury alike – as it will in homes across the country.
Many commuters hold bitter memories of shivering at stations and being unable to get to work as rail staff went on strike last year. Similarly, nurses and junior doctors undid the post-pandemic goodwill when they cancelled appointments and left accident and emergency wards skeleton staffed while they banged the drum for absurdly high pay rises.
Those strikers were paid off by Starmer on coming to power, and inevitably they are now grumbling for more. There appears to be no understanding among our union brothers and sisters that the UK faces dire budgetary problems, a legacy of the shocks caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Reeves added to the woes with her tax on employment when she raised National Insurance Contributions on businesses.
The result has been predictable, with 276,000 more people unemployed and a return to stubborn, above 2 per cent, inflation. The Employment Rights Bill, which allows for bullying strike powers and attacks flexibility afforded by part-time work and zero hours contracts, will be the latest blow to business confidence. And Labour wonders why its growth mission has failed.
For Rayner, extending the right of trade unions to strike by lowering the 50 per cent turnout rule for ballots and allowing instant notice of industrial action, is her reward to a union hierarchy that helped her rise up the greasy pole.
In her biography, she boasts: 'I was mouthy and would take no messing from management.' Let's see if she takes any 'messing' from the public on whom she is about to inflict her socialist agenda.
The Deputy Prime Minister and her party are embarking on a course that will add to business costs, sap the willingness of companies to invest and devastate efforts to reboot the economy.
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The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
I left frantic UK life to buy 85p home in sunny paradise – now I'm building property empire for cost of two pints
AFTER years of enduring the rat race as a jewellery dealer in the UK, George Laing took a gamble on a new life in Europe - with just 85p. With gruelling hard work and patience, the Brit is slowly transforming a derelict three-story building into his dream home - and he has another plan up his sleeve. 15 15 15 He has just finalised the deal on a SECOND 85p house - and intends to purchase up to 15 more over the next three years. When George snapped up his first home in Sicily for only 85p over two years ago, he was well aware of the long, painful and pricey process he'd have to endure during the renovation. The property was in desperate need of an overhaul, with a hole in the roof and no running water or electricity. Several wooden beams were rotting from both ends and worrying cracks lined almost every wall in each room. The bathroom was a tiny box and the kitchen was simply a metal stove connected to a propane tank. But beyond the gloomy exterior and lackluster interior, jeweller and business mogul Laing saw its potential. And even with no prior background in revamping anything close to a three-floored home, George was determined to get stuck in. He now spends two weeks a month at home in the UK and the rest in beautiful Sicily, working tirelessly to complete his future kingdom. George even plans to open up an antiques shop in Mussomeli at the end of the year so he can continue his jewellery business in Italy. Speaking to The Sun, the young homeowner has revealed just how far he has come in the past 12 months. I left UK to buy 85p home - I get perfect weather, cheap booze & better neighbours He said: 'It's surreal to see the first house coming together - we've got water, electricity, and now we're onto the exciting part: fitting out the kitchen and bathrooms with marble from a local quarry. 'I want the finish to be as beautiful as the bones of the building. 'Once the first house is finished, we're throwing a huge celebration — the mayor's coming, the neighbours are invited. "It's not just a personal milestone, it's a community one. "What started as a crumbling €1 house has now started to turn into a beautiful, liveable home." Just 10,000 residents live in George's new hometown of Mussomeli. The sun-soaked region of Sicily has long been known as a glorious haven for those wanting the laid back European lifestyle. George, who lives in Eastbourne and used to work to London, says the drastic change in vibes is one of the key factors behind why he purchased the home. He explained: "In Sicily, life is just a bit slower. "You've got a different quality of life, and obviously the weather is 25-30 degrees everyday. And it's a beautiful place." 15 15 15 Despite living in a foodie paradise, renovating the home hasn't been without its challenges. He said: "It's been like a full-time job mixed with the most personal kind of DIY adventure. "I've overseen everything from rewiring and plumbing to sourcing materials locally and working with Italian builders who don't speak a word of English. "Navigating Italian bureaucracy without being fluent in Italian was definitely up there. "Also, understanding the true structural condition of the property - it's not always obvious what lies behind the walls until you start breaking them open. "And of course, doing all this on a tight budget meant I had to be hands-on with almost everything." But George loves the lifestyle so much that he has just finalised the deal on a second 85p house. BIG PLANS He said: "It's a totally different challenge, and I'm already planning how to preserve what's special, while breathing new life into it. "And I'm planning to purchase another three to five in the next year, another 10-15 over the next three years. "I've learned so much and now I want to go even bigger and begin to grow my property portfolio. "There's also something incredibly addictive about rescuing these abandoned homes. "I'm passionate about bringing life back to these forgotten places and helping others do the same." 15 15 15 From the first moment he arrived, George could tell he had entered into a tight-knit community. The locals in Sicily are very different to what George is used to. He quickly became friends with his Italian neighbours - although he admits he still has to use Google Translate to chat with them. And being in his early 30s, George has been thrilled to find the price of alcohol is drastically lower in Italy. He said: "It's just nice to buy things that are a lot cheaper. "You get a beer or a cocktail in Sicily for €1.50 or a glass of wine for €2 - whereas it's £7.50 now in London for a pint. "Even just living there day to day you spend less money, which is a nice bonus." 15 Three spacious storeys of room to play with and a classic Italian balcony at the front were paired with a glorious marble staircase. George is proud of his bold choice and says despite his pals being nervy about the move he is now confident it was the right choice. One of the main reasons he left was the struggle to find a home in and around London on the cheap. He said: "Financially getting on the property market in London or anywhere in the UK is incredibly hard. £5,000 in the UK isn't going to get you diddly squat." Another key factor is not having to pay an astronomical mortgage. Getting on the property ladder is notoriously hard in the UK due to the lack of available housing, surging house prices and rising bills. In 2023, 42,000 Brits left their lives behind and moved to a new EU nation. For George, when he heard Italy was flogging homes for less than £1, the bold move made sense - something others are now getting on board with. He said: "Seeing something so neglected come back to life is incredibly rewarding. "Also, becoming part of the local Sicilian community sharing food, stories, and wine with neighbours has made this much more than just a renovation. "It's been a total life reset in the best way." How does the €1 house scheme work? DEPENDING on the region, a number of towns and villages across Italy have offered the cheap €1 properties to encourage people to move to the area. There are around 25 regions who are taking part, each with a number of properties. Many of the areas have a dwindling or aging population and hope to build the community again. The properties range from small houses to larger villas, but are all in a very rundown condition. The conditions for buying each property also vary, but the majority of them need large renovation works which are part of the scheme According to Maurizio Berti, who runs the website "The houses are owned by private individuals who often want to get rid of them so as not to pay taxes and heavy taxes. "We are talking about dilapidated or unsafe properties that need major renovations." Conditions include notary fees, paying an additional three-year buying guarantee policy of €5,000 (which is refunded when it expires) as well as starting the project within two months once permits are given. The houses are put to an auction where people can bid on them so they technically aren't all €1. While some do sell for €1, on average houses sell for around €5,000 euros, although some are up to €20,000. Some of the schemes even offer to pay you money for buying a home if you can boost the economy with a new business venture. 15
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
City of London listed housing estate refurbishment costs triple
The cost for the essential refurbishment of a listed London housing estate has more than and upgrades to the Golden Lane Estate, a Grade II-listed site designed by the same architects as the nearby Barbican, have gone from an expected £29m to £ Pearson, chair of the Golden Lane Estate Residents' Association, said the lack of communication from landlord, the City of London Corporation, over the increase was "disappointing".A spokesperson for the City of London said the cost reflected the decision to deliver the improvements over 10 years rather than 20, "in direct response to feedback from our residents". The Golden Lane Estate, which recently featured heavily on the Apple TV show Slow Horses, needs repairs to its windows as well as wider refurbishment, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) have been pushing for upgrades for years while simultaneously raising concerns about the potential cost to leaseholders and ongoing issues such as damp and January it was revealed works to Grade II*-listed Crescent House, a prominent block on the estate, were to be pushed back due to it incorrectly not being registered as a High Risk Building, the LDRS a City of London Corporation Committee report presented on Thursday, further details were provided about its 10-year Housing Investment will cost £205m, £105m of which is to be spent on the Golden Lane Estate. The LDRS said this was more than three times the £29m estimated to complete repairs when the committee agreed the Golden Lane Estate scheme in March report also sets out a timeline, with works on Crescent House and Cuthbert Harrowing House expected to start in 2027. Cullum Welch and Hatfield House are last, with work to begin in 2032 and finish in 2035. 'Top priority' Ms Pearson, who was formerly a councillor at the City of London Corporation, said: "It is disappointing that City residents found out about the threefold rise in the cost of the renovation work to their flats only by reading the City council's committee papers and the construction press. "They have still not been told anything by the corporation, their landlord, despite leaseholders being expected to shoulder a share."A spokesperson for the corporation said the safety of residents was its "top priority". "A dedicated improvement programme has begun at Golden Lane Estate, with fire safety upgrades, maintenance improvements, better thermal efficiency and redecoration."Resident consultation and engagement remain central to this process and there will be a comprehensive communications and engagement plan to deliver this."
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
London funeral costs highest in UK, report finds
The average cost of an attended funeral in London is the most expensive compared with anywhere else in the UK, according to a services company SunLife found that the average funeral cost in 2024 was £4,285. In London, it was £5,449 - a 5.4% increase from the year before and 58% higher than in the least expensive region, Northern have been raised about funeral poverty, with charity Quaker Social Action saying the financial stress can "rob people of their ability to grieve".The government offers some people a subsidy; on certain government benefits a Funeral Expenses Payment can help cover some of the costs. Of those who receive a Funeral Expenses Payment, the subsidy covers approximately 46% of the total funeral costs, on average, the SunLife report are also public health funerals, which are a basic funeral service arranged and paid for by the local authority. Lindesay Mace, who leads on strategic work to tackle funeral poverty for Quaker Social Action, said: "We hear so often from people that they don't have the mental space to grieve because all they can do is think about how they're going to pay the costs."Faced with these costs that they can't afford people sometimes use their rent money to pay a funeral deposit or they will cut back on food or not pay essential bills just trying to scrape that money together."However, Clare Montagu, chief executive for Poppy's Funerals, told BBC London there are ways to reduce costs to make a funeral meaningful. "You could have a simple cardboard coffin and you can make it really personal by decorating it yourself, putting images or words or symbols that are meaningful to you and to the person who's died," she said. "You can bring your own flowers, you don't need to pay for a florist, you can run the ceremony yourself, you don't need to have a religious minister or a celebrant." Reducing costs Jordan Flynn, from SunLife, said the capital had the fewest people making financial provision for their own funerals, and the highest number of funeral organisers reporting significant financial concern as a result of covering funeral advised trying to obtain quotes from a few different funeral directors and asking them how to bring the cost report also found a simple attended cremation with a service was the most popular type of funeral. This is a less expensive option, and direct cremations - an unattended funeral - are cheaper, costing on average £1,597. Dan Garrett, from funeral services provider Dignity, said the number of direct cremations had increased over the last five years from about 2% of all funerals in 2019 to about 20% of the funeral market in the last year."It's a significantly more affordable product and 89% of families who have a direct cremation then organise a separate celebration of life," he to SunLife, the overall cost of dying in 2024 reached its highest level at an average price of £9,797, including the funeral, professional fees and send-off Mace said government support and wages had not kept up with funeral inflation and many funeral costs had "outstripped general inflation in the last 20 years".A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said: "Losing a loved one is devastating and we understand the financial impacts it can have on families."The DWP Funeral Expenses Payment scheme makes a contribution towards the cost of a funeral arranged by someone who is in receipt of certain income-related benefits. It also offers an additional £1,000 to meet other funeral expenses." You can watch the latest edition of Politics London in full on BBC iPlayer
