BRITAIN’S white van drivers — the backbone of the economy — have seen the cost of running their work vehicles soar in the past 12 months, by up to £500 for many.
Now tradespeople, from plumbers and electricians to builders and delivery drivers, face a new blow to their finances, buried in the small print of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement.
Up to two thirds are only now discovering an extra ten per cent hike in their costs — £72-a-year or more — if they drive their work van for private use.
The Chancellor made no secret last month of the need to balance the economy but Britain’s 4.2million self-employed workers seem to be bearing the brunt of his stealth taxes.
The van benefit charge is another low blow for the self-employed sector which suffered badly in the pandemic and saw almost a million people decide it was no longer a viable option for them.
At a time when the economy desperately needs growth, the enterprising, hard-working white van men and women of this country should be given every incentive to put their foot on the business accelerator.
They should not be clamped by the Government.
WHITEHALL civil servants, many still working from home, have been tucking into treats from Nando’s and Greggs and shopping at Argos thanks to millions of pounds of vouchers from Government departments.
The cash-free gift cards have been used as a way to get around pay and bonus freezes.
The Government might argue that keeping civil servants sweet with “reward and recognition” schemes is cheaper than inflation-busting pay rises which would cost the country billions.
Labour sees it as double standards despite being happy for similar schemes to exist when they were in power.
Those in the private sector who don’t enjoy such perks — and have had to cut back on their own food treats as the cost of living crisis bites — might just conclude it’s peri peri nice for some.
AS striking Border Force staff continue their festive industrial action, it’s not been a great year for the Home Office agency charged with securing the UK’s borders.
More than 45,000 migrants landed on our Channel shores in small boats alone.
At least investigators have now arrested one person alleged to be an illegal immigrant.
It’s just a shame that he was working for, erm, Border Force, and that he has been living here for around 20 years.
It goes to show that our border protection has been a shambles for decades.
Good luck fixing it now, Rishi.
