It’s winter then…..

That seemed to land all of a sudden. After a disappointing summer, the clocks going back and the temperature dropping almost overnight I’ve had to adjust my wardrobe.

Seems like a chilly is all pervading. News that the government’s internal review told them that removing the winter fuel allowance was likely to push 50-100k more people into relative poverty makes the decision seem even less well thought through. I said as soon as it was announced back in the days when the Tories were still in charge “If they want to make sure it reaches poor people and not the rich why not just add it to taxable income”. Wouldn’t have generated quite so much – but would have seemed to be fair and proportionate.

I do think that the current obsession with famers and inheritance tax displays a similar level of rushed politics and poor communication. Making sure the rich pay their faire share of tax is entirely reasonable and we know the very rich have been buying land for decades to avoid tax liability. So again my simple mind thinks that this furore could have easily been avoided. If a farm is genuinely a family business that is intended to pass to the next generation to maintain the business it could easily be claimed that this is a change of Directorshis within the business – not an inheritance.

Could then impose the same level of inheritance tax that everyone else has to pay on those instances where land has been banked, or misclassified or is owned by a corporate body.

Then there’s a popular redistributive fundraising activity that would be popular, transparent and fair.

I’d also make Clarkson pay at least 60% just for him being him – but sadly I am not in charge.

Have been ensconsed in Southampton in recent weeks – undertaking a drug and alcohol needs assessment. Have been fortunate enough to spend time in services , attended a SMART meeting and spent a morning in a homeless hostel and assessment centre. Always feels like a privilege to be invited into these spaces and to just listen to people and their stories.

I also had the opportunity to speak at a local University today – to a group of 3rd year students about UK Drug policy and application and the rising influence of the LERO movement. Great Q&A followed including definitions of recovery and the effectiveness (or not) of the ‘war on drugs’. Been invited back so I assume I made some sense – either that of I just fitted into their budget….

Also had some interesting debates with my mum this week about the state of the church. She is 81 and still volunteers in her church as an ordained local minister. She has found her “faith rocked by what has been going and that they covered it up right to the top – surely you should be able to trust your vicars”. Having no faith myself I am less surprised that another cover up has been unearthed. Unsurprised but no less horrified.

Just started reading NEXUS: a brief history of information networks from the stone ge to AI. Trust me its much more of an interesting read than the title suggests.

Musically – I’m writing this with Tom Waits playing in the background (hence the slightly lighter tone than lasy week). And have a busy long weekend of gigs: Fat Dog on Friday (loud and raucous), Cassandra Jenkins (anything but loud and raucous and made my friend Steve sry last time we saw her) and Katy J Pearson for some uplifing pop on Tuesday.