The Anonymous Widower

Bankers and Bonuses

Years ago, I was part of team that created a technology company.  When we sold it, we went to enormous lengths to avoid paying tax as it was then 80%.  If you increase taxes then companies like this will set up in more favourable regimes and the loss of employment from these sectors will be great.

After all, I live near Cambridge and they’ve just announced a £900 million investment in research and facilities at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.  Some of those researchers will make a very large sum of money, but they will save a large number of lives and improve all out lot significantly.

So do we have one set of morals for bankers and accountants and another for scientists, doctors and engineers?  Judging by the fact that crap like X-Factor is bread and circuses to most of the population, it would appear that reality TV stars rate a lot higher, than both groups.  No-one complains when some Z-list celebrity gets a drug addiction.  They just feel sorry for them!

You can’t tax bankers without taxing others who risk everything to create world-changing companies and ideas. And dare I say it the jobs we need for the future.

October 20, 2009 Posted by | Finance, Health | | Leave a comment

Should MPs be Banned from Employing Spouses?

A report in The Times, says that MPs will be banned from employing family members and would have to sell second homes.

I think this would create an even bigger can of worms.

Let’s take the case of an MP who has employed his spouse for twenty years to run his office.  There are actually quite a few if the reports are to be believed.  In probably the great majority of cases, we as the tax payers probably get good value.

My wife was a barrister and for much of her career, I was her very part-time unpaid helper.  If she was in Court and a brief needed to be collected, I’d pop in to her Chambers to get it.  Or if her computer needed updating, that was my department.  Many partners work as a team, to their own advantage.

So even if we ban spouses from working for their partners, does this mean that they can’t do any work, unpaid or not?

And what about the situation, where an MP lives with someone, to whom they are not married?

As I said it will be an even bigger can of worms.

In my view, an MP is in effect a small business, so should they be under any different rules!  Everything should be approved by the Inland Revenue and if your wife, partner, husband or grand-daughter is the best person for the job, then why should they not be employed.

I’m also reminded of a tale told to me by an MP.  He was doing a series of speaking engagements for his party in the year running up to an election.  As he would be tired after speaking and may have indulged in the odd glass or two, he did not feel it was a good idea to drive home.  So he went to the Job Centre and said could they find him a driver, who could also help with moving his computer about, between home and the House.

The Job Centre said no, as he had said the job would not be permanent.

So in the end he employed one of his friend’s son’s in the year before he went to University.

October 20, 2009 Posted by | News | | Leave a comment

Barack Obama and Gordon Brown

I was searching for something else and found this little snippet in Simon Heffer‘s piece in the Telegraph for September 29th.

I bet our diplomats were “frantic” as they tried, and almost failed, to ensure that the most important person on earth, President Obama, had talks in the margins of the G20 with the man who thinks he is the most important person on earth, Gordon Brown. The reality is this. Mr Brown, as far as the Americans are concerned, is finished. He is of no use to them, so they see no reason to waste time on him. I can see their point: but every day, all of us find we have to be civil to people who are tiresome to us, and we manage to cope with that.

St Barack, whose own world is imploding as he gets more and more out of his depth, should reflect that he, one day, may be in Mr Brown’s position. And, by the way, he should learn some manners.

An interesting view from someone, who is not known to be playing in Stanley Matthew’s position – i.e. On the right!

October 20, 2009 Posted by | News | , , , | Leave a comment

Shepherd’s Pie

This a low fat take on a classic English dish. Shepherd’s Pie was traditionally made with leftover meat–usually lamb or beef. This is a recipe that can be made ahead and frozen for later use. I have modified it slightly to use metric measurements and make it gluten-free.

It came from Fiona Haynes of About.com.

My version used the following ingredients.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large carrots, chopped
  • 500 grams extra-lean minced beef
  • 2 tbsp gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp Waitrose organic tomato paste
  • 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 250 ml, beef stock
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 kilo of King Edward or similar potatoes
  • Milk and fat to mash the potatoes with

The method was as follows.

  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil on medium-low heat. Saute onions and carrots until softened. Turn up heat to medium-high and add beef; cook until no longer pink. Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, herbs and broth. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Add peas, then simmer 5 minutes more.
    Tip: If sauce seems a bit thin for your liking, add some cornflour or gluten-free flour and stir into beef mixture.
  2. While sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add potatoes, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain water. Add milk and butter. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Season if you like.
  3. Pour sauce into an 11-inch by 7-inch baking dish and allow to cool slightly. Top with potato.
  4. Bake in the bottom of the top over of the AGA.

I actually cooked two, with one going in the freezer and the other shared with my son.

October 20, 2009 Posted by | Food | , | 8 Comments