Let them heat pasties

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Pasty Tax Climbdown: Another Lib Dem Victory George Osborne has produced another spectacular U-turn by reversing plans to put VAT on pasties and similar varieties of hot food - as long as those pasties have been put on a tray and allowed to cool down. The surprise revelation on Monday night means the Treasury has lost around £50m in revenue in this year's Budget, and comes alongside another U-turn; attempts to introduce 20% VAT on static caravans have been scaled back - they will now attract a lower rate of 5%. And in ANOTHER policy reversal on what will become known as 'U-turn Tuesday' (at least in our heads) Ken Clarke has announced that powers to hear evidence in secret in civil courts will not be extended to inquests and will only be allowed in the interest of national security. The cynics among us might suggest that this triple U-turn was delayed until parliament went into recess to stop Ed Miliband and Ed Balls being able to gloat so much about it. 'Secret' Inquest Powers To Be Watered Down Over Civil Liberty Concerns Michael Gove And Theresa May Face Grilling At Leveson Demands For Government U-Turn On Economy 'Broken Establishment Past Its Sell-By Date' Says Deputy PM What Happened To Big Society? BLOG POSTS Greg Secker: Philanthropist is not a Dirty Word If the government turns philanthropy into a selfish rather than selfless act, then the effect of the tax cap could be far greater than anyone is predicting, and that is when charities will really begin to lose out. Siobhan Benita: Comment... And a Bit of News There has been a lot of discussion at the Leveson Inquiry about the desirability of having a much clearer distinction in our print media between what is news and what is comment. Lord O'Donnell, Alastair Campbell and Andrew Marr have all given their thoughts on this over the past few days and I hear it's already standard practice in America for such a distinction to be made. James Wharton: Do Councils Really Care about People Living With AIDS? Last year, I was asked by The Crescent, an organisation which provides support to people living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS, to become a Patron of their charity, and to become involved in the fundraising that goes with providing such services. Jim Murphy MP: Why We Need More Legal Protection for our Forces While in Afghanistan with Labour Leader Ed Miliband and Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander I heard first hand some of our Forces' worries. All of this should be unacceptable to every British person, family and community. Those who risk all in the dangers of Helmand Province and beyond should do so with the peace of mind about support back home. Matt Bostrom: Of Politics and Sport As the 2012 election season grips all corners of the US in a fascinating carnival of strategy, pageantry, and partisanship; I realise I miss something else. Just as viewing sports is not the same in London, neither is the US political race.

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