Tim Worstall

A rise in VAT is looming whichever party wins the general election, as Labour and the Conservatives draw up plans to balance Britain’s books. Alistair Darling and George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, are both considering raising VAT to as high as 20 per cent — the European average — from the current rate of 17.5 [...]

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No offence, but can’t we try weak government? Yes please. Let’s have really weak government Yup.

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Their latest report. Many people work longer hours than 30 years ago. Since 1981 two-adult households have added six hours – nearly a whole working day – to their combined weekly workload. No they haven’t. This is simply a lie. Leisure hours have risen: so working hours must have fallen. And to think, our tax [...]

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Yes, this supermarket price stuff is being run by Felicity Lawrence. You can comment on it by sending an email to “datastore@guardian.co.uk”. I have: Amazing stuff there. You mean prices change in response to demand? Businesses act to maximise profits? You know, if you could formalise this, try to create the basis of a science [...]

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Supermarket giants Tesco and Asda dramatically increased prices on key items in the runup to Christmas in what an independent expert has called “a systematic, cynical and aggressive attempt to exploit demand”, a Guardian investigation can reveal. Batteries, lightbulbs, medicines, Christmas drinks and must-have children’s toys were among essentials whose prices were increased. No, tell [...]

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Now I know that bankers aren’t the most loved of creatures at present but: Barclays Capital has been forced to break contractual agreements with some of its star bankers after bowing to regulatory demands on bonus payments. The investment banking arm of Britain’s third biggest bank on Friday set aside a record bonus pool thought [...]

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An offer has already been agreed on nearly three acres of mature woodland and grapevines near Combe Hay, Bath. But if the exchange fails to go ahead next Tuesday, it will go under the hammer at the Francis Hotel in Bath at 6.30pm on March 2 with a guide price of £15,000 to £20,000. I [...]

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Compass weighs in behind Robin Hood Tax campaign coalition Compass and the nef? Must be barking, eh?

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Remind me: Lord Mandelson triggered incredulity last night by insisting Britain should join the euro – just as the currency struggled with the worst crisis in its history. The Business Secretary played down turmoil in the eurozone by claiming the single currency had been a ‘remarkable success’ and said it was in Britain’s long term [...]

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Becoming a vegetarian can do more harm to the environment than continuing to eat red meat, according to a study of the impacts of meat substitutes such as tofu. The findings undermine claims by vegetarians that giving up meat automatically results in lower emissions and that less land is needed to produce food. The study [...]

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“As the most over-examined generation, which invests the most money into its education, polyglots should get more recognition for their language skills. They are still sorely underrated here, particularly if you do not wish to pursue professions traditionally associated with languages, such as interpreting, translation or teaching. Abroad of course, the demand is high for [...]

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So, how’s this working out then? Charlie Brooks is appalled by the hypocrisy which forced a teacher to resign because she wanted her class to rear a pig, then auction its meat. Not well really. For the story is about a teacher whose class raised a sheep and then sold the meat. Britain has a [...]

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The Institute said it strongly condemned the actions of the Sea Shepherd activists, noting that Japan’s whale research vessels are conducting legal research activities in the Antarctic. Now, however we might wish that it weren’t so (yes, even I’m an enviroweenie when it comes to whales) they are right. What they’re doing is legal. The [...]

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Just checking out my new Toyota keyboaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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I too was once a benefits cheat … The truth about benefits scroungers is that they come in all shapes and sizes Deborah Orr. Why we should be surprised at this I’m not sure. Don’t most people assume that benefits cheats have a heroin addict in the family?

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Fortunately, the wife hates them…I get to keep mine.

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There’s a character in a Pterry novel who speaks like the ad copy for this. In “The Word” I think? Thug who’s also an antiques expert? ” The new ad for Burger King’s 3-Cheese Angus. It’s King great. The new BK 3-Cheese Angus is one King tasty burger. So King tasty that even just looking [...]

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But is this really going to help all that much? And Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues,” is working with Unicef to build a City of Joy here to train women — some of them shattered by war — to transform their communities. City of Joy will teach legal rights, self-defense and skills for [...]

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Letter in the Telegraph: Robin Hood was anti-tax SIR – Bill Nighy (Comment, February 10) supports a “Robin Hood tax” on financial transactions. Transaction taxes are almost always paid, in the end, by consumers – not, as their advocates suppose, by the professionals in the markets. Robin Hood is supposed to have made a career [...]

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Leggett again, thought I’d have a look at the actual report. Taskforce member companies Arup, Foster and Partners, Scottish and Southern Energy, Solarcentury, Stagecoach Group, Virgin Group. Hmm, two architects, one generator, a solar panel installer, a bus company and the Bearded One. This is where we go for our expertise on global oil supply [...]

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