how many more USA shootings will there be?

Infinite.

More than 150,000 workers whose firms are signed up to the voluntary living wage rate are set to get a pay rise. It is separate from the government's compulsory National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW).

How can any Government pay by law, wages that are below the National Living Wage?

Wage rise

Chris, I think you have to check your references more carefully.

1) That article is about commercial company wage rates, not rates paid by the Government.

2) The Government has defined, in law, that the National Living Wage is different from, and lower than, the - er - National Living Wage which had previously been defined outside Government. Yes, they can do that.

But the workers concerned are going to get the externally-set rate, which is £1.25 per hour higher than the Government's cut-price version. If it only takes 30p to reach the new level, they're being paid more than the legal minimum already.

The Government may be being shamed, but their laws aren't being flouted.

The level of the voluntary living wage is calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation, a not-for-profit research and policy organisation.

She's cute. :)

You might think so, I couldn't possibly comment ;-)

But on previous form, and again this time, she's stupid - almost terminally so. Which is a big turn-off for me.

Priti Patel apologises over undisclosed Israeli meetings

She said she "regretted the lack of precision in the wording" of her previous statement about the trip.

- otherwise known as being "economical with the truth".

The Government may be being shamed, but their laws aren't being flouted.

Sorry I wasn't quite clear.

The National Living Wage is the amount of money all employees aged over 25 are legally entitled to. It used to be known as the National Minimum Wage, but it was re-branded in 2016.The amount went up from £7.20 to £7.50 an hour in April as confirmed in Philip Hammond's Spring Budget 2017.

What I should have said is how can a Government make a law that says the national living wage is below that of the real living wage? That immediately puts some workers below the poverty line and claiming benefits and supplements from the DHSS? maybe because the companies paying the minimum are powerful lobbyists and party donors?

Real Living wage

Because not everything is black and white. CRISP
Why should Londoners get an increased rate when there are other places with a higher cost of living than London.

She's cute. :)

You might think so, I couldn't possibly comment ;-)

But on previous form, and again this time, she's stupid - almost terminally so. Which is a big turn-off for me.

Perhaps bright enough to be a scullery maid?

My own personal view is that a company trading in the UK and making profits on UK sales to UK customers should morally pay UK taxes.

So have you written & complained to the Duchy of Lancaster yet?

Don't forget to add the Duchy of Cornwall to your complaints list :-)

I did both of these.

Even 40 years ago Companies needing staff for a short term project, usually in engineering or computing, didn't want to pay holiday pay, sick, pay, superann etc, so they hired contractors from an agency at so much an hour. The company paid the agency and the agency paid the contractor. But the contractor set up a small personal company with them as the sole employee, and the agency paid the company who paid the contractor. All sorts of taxes were saved.

The Rolling Stones are now I was domiciled mainly in France ____ but are was only allowed to set foot in the UK to perform for any reason about a total of 2 30 days a year without incurring UK taxes on earnings.

But did pay full rate NI when asked to after I returned, and had to have a comprehensive European and US health insurance policies, they're not cheap. On the plus side I also got tax free goods some with large discounts as well.

"Because of these “commercial” transactions, Hamilton’s advisers were able to arrange a 100% VAT refund when the plane landed at Ronaldsway. The £3.3m VAT bill was paid on Hamilton’s behalf by an Isle of Man accountancy firm. So when the aircraft landed, the customs official attending out of hours stamped a VAT-paid form to be kept on board the aircraft. This granted the aircraft “full and free circulation” in the EU."

Why leprechauns will always remain leprechauns

Anyone for a "donkey ride"?

Good for you :-) Haven't had any one knock on my door & there won't be any knocks. Your piece on tax havens was quite good, but don't you think that royalty should be "squeaky clean"?

Dear old queenie stating that she does not have any involvement in those investments is nothing but a "get out of jail" card.

Expect it to get much worse when queenie pops her clogs & "bumbling Chas" takes over.

From the number of letters you apparently write to many organisations, it is much more likely that you are the one they are watching.

Well someone has to ensure the Royal Mail remains a viable business :-)

From the number of letters you apparently write to many organisations, it is much more likely that you are the one they are watching.

Well someone has to ensure the Royal Mail remains a viable business :-)

Wonder if the weight of all those postage stamps is why London is sinking? ;)

From the number of letters you apparently write to many organisations, it is much more likely that you are the one they are watching.

Well someone has to ensure the Royal Mail remains a viable business :-)

Wonder if the weight of all those postage stamps is why London is sinking? ;)

More surprising is the fact that all those islands are not sinking from the weight of all that offshore cash.

From the number of letters you apparently write to many organisations, it is much more likely that you are the one they are watching.

Well someone has to ensure the Royal Mail remains a viable business :-)

Wonder if the weight of all those postage stamps is why London is sinking? ;)

More surprising is the fact that all those islands are not sinking from the weight of all that offshore cash.

Think that is all virtual, you know, just like RAC; a big number next to a name on a web page.

I see the NHS wants its promised money.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41908302

Witham MP Priti Patel has ministerial visit cancelled by prime minister in row over Israel meetings

Ohh dear looks like the proverbial is going to hit the spinny thing for her now ;-);-)

International development secretary Priti Patel – MP for Witham – has been ordered back to Britain by Theresa May to explain herself over unauthorised meetings with Israeli politicians.

Link
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/witham-mp-priti-patel-has-ministerial-visit-cancelled-by-prime-minister-in-row-over-israel-meetings-1-5270236

2 items spring to mind. Head+chopping block.

A few points need clearing up.

I also doubt that you will be physically visited either, but I would take an educated guess that you will now fall under someone's radar somewhere if you weren't already.

Been on the radar over 46 years ago. How I ended up on that radar was due to British stupidity. The sins of the father are not supposed to fall upon the son, in my case, my grandfather (who died before I was born). However British intellectuals often assume that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Fortunatly for me, I achieved my aims & spent some great times in the British Army.

So my grandad bumped off quite a few Brits, what had that got to do with me? It would not surprise me to see you on several watch lists while I'm on none :-)

Yes I agree that the Royal family should set an example, and also there should not be any apparent "conflicts of interests", which as present there could be seen to be. I would imagine that as of now the senior Royals are taking steps to remove such anomalies from the assets managed upon their behalf.

What I objected to was the allegation that the Queen and other Royals were avoiding taxes by using offshore investments, that is patently wrong and in fact both HM and HRH voluntarily pay taxes that they don't have to in order to set an example. But of course anti-monarchists love tabloid headlines.

Only now taking steps you think? The Panama Papers should have been a clear warning sign. Offshore investments are not liable to UK tax, therefore if not avoidance, what would you call it? £10 million of her own personal fortune & invest unchecked?

About time you got off this "anti-monarchy" whinge. You are just 1 of 65 odd million in this country.

Sheep trained to recognise Barack Obama

Doesn't say whether they can recognise Donald Trump, or tell the difference between them.

We're going to have to be careful with that 'sheeple' joke at the next election - they might make a better job of it than we have.

With the lady fallen on her sword, should the Botch Johnson not follow?