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Questions Raised Over Road Pricing Scheme
As the quest to get motorists off the overcrowded roads and into already crowded and over-priced trains continues, serious questions have been raised over the Government’s plans to introduce nationwide road pricing.
The Commons transport select committee has warned that motorists may reject the scheme because of worries that it threatens their privacy. And with the possibility of “spy in the sky satellites” being used to track the cars, who can blame them.
John Prescott Racks Up £500,000 Bill
Welcome back John! We’ve missed your cute smile and your svelte body. Where have you been? Ah, I see, travelling around the world and stuffing your face at the expense of the humble taxpayer?
According to the Mail, the all-in-one loving and eating machine racked up £500,000 worth of expenses as he embarked on his own ‘farewell tour’, which took him to the US and the Caribbean.
That adventure alone cost £15,000 while Presser still hasn’t moved out of his grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House in Whitehall. (Pic: Beau Bo D'Or via Anorak)
Smoking Ban Bashes Bingo Halls
The smoking ban may be benefiting the health of the nation, but the prognosis for a number of industries affected by the new law is anything but good.
The bingo business in particular looks particularly vulnerable to the ban with at least 10 bingo halls already shutting in Scotland. And now, the Mirror reports on the first English casualty – the Stardust club in Wellington, Northants.
Post Office Spies
With post offices closing, local shops usurped by supermarket giants, church attendances dropping and pubs turfing out their smoking clientele, Britons will probably find a better sense of community on Facebook than on their high streets.
The plan to close 2,500 rural post office branches in the next 18 months is set to have a devastating affect on small communities throughout the country and now it has been revealed that unhappy postmasters who speak out against the closures are being threatened with having their £60,000 compensation pay-outs rescinded.
The High Cost Of Freedom In Iraq
More than £2,000 a second, that’s what the Iraq war is costing the US and the UK taxpayer. It should make us all feel proud and indeed honoured that our hard-earned cash is bringing freedom, prosperity and peace to the Iraqi people. But will we ever get so much as a “thank you”? I doubt it. The sheer cheek of some people!
Washington’s Congressional Budget Office has estimated that £250billion has been spent on combat operations in Iraq with the total increasing by an incredible £5billion every month. Individually, Britain is currently coughing up £80million a month, which despite looking quite paltry compared to the US figures, still works out at £31 a second.
M6 Widening Costs £1,000 An Inch
As the quest to cover the whole of the country in motorways continues, eyebrows are being raised at the growing cost of the M6 widening project.
A 51-mile stretch of the motorway between Birmingham and Manchester is currently being widened to incorporate a new lane with the cost of the construction now estimated to eventually hit £2.9billion, or around £897 per inch, which will rise to over a grand when inflation is factored in.
Facebook Outlawed By City Firms
You may be reading this right now, but the likelihood is that you've also been mucking about on Facebook today. And now, irritated bosses have decided to clamp down on the 'Facebooking' craze, with some firms restricting or even banning the use of the networking site during working hours.
A poll in the Evening Standard has revealed that more than 70 per cent of major London businesses, including banks, law firms and government departments, have moved to limit their workers' access to the site.
Government Support For Cohabiting Couples
Right-thinking middle-Englanders will be spitting out their Earl Grey in disgust at the news that Government advisors have recommended, in a new report, that cohabiting couples who separate should have the same rights as married couples who divorce.
The research, which was financed by the Ministry of Justice, claims that cohabitants should receive automatic rights and obligations "akin to marriage", including a share of the property and pensions and the ability to claim maintenance.
I'm A Celebrity – I'm Going To Blair's Political Party
It’s reassuring to know that our hard earned cash has been spent on wining and dining the likes of Vernon Kay, Richard Madeley and June Sarpong.
The Government has details of the expenditure at Tony Blair's former official country retreat of Chequers over the last 18 months of his reign, and while the house has been historically used to receive foreign dignitaries, diplomats and politicians, it seems that Tony's obsession with celebrity has turned the venue into some kind of giant green room.
Scotland's First Minister Claims London Living
Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, is claiming for £22,000 expenses for living in London, to the dismay of Scottish MPs.
Salmond stayed away from Westminster for nearly three months after his election as Holyrod but he is still claiming the full additional cost allowance.
The Lib Dems' Alistair Carmichael says: "His constituents will expect, if he turns up in London only on high days and Edinburgh holidays, that will be reflected in much lower expenses."
Newcastle Council Publish Card Details On Web
Thanks to Newcastle City Council, even the worst hacker in the world could have gotten his or her hands on some seriously valuable financial details of up to 54,000 local people.
The details of thousands of credit and debit cards transactions were placed on an insecure server and accessed by overseas computers after the blunder - a blunder which only came to light on July 19 after an independent expert was brought in to test the Council's systems.
Passengers To Pay For Rail Improvements
Ruth Kelly's extreme Catholic sect of choice, Opus Dei, enjoy a little self-flagellation. And it now seems that the new Transport Secretary wants commuters to share the pain.
In the new 30-year rail strategy, the Government sets out their plans to add 1,300 extra carriages, improve train punctuality, complete the Thameslink project and redevelop Birmingham New Street Station.