Andrew George
Promoting the
Politics of Courage
I’m running a positive campaign to restore decency and honesty to our politics. To build a brighter future. To combat those who want us to become more inward-looking, backward-looking, more self-absorbed. I’ll build a campaign for an outward-looking, forward-looking and compassionate country.
We’ve been misled by a privileged clique who’ve irresponsibly played on fears to stoke prejudice. We must get beyond the Brexit chaos they’ve dragged our country into. We must restore the things that matter for the sake of our children’s future – our NHS, our schools and the very sustainability of our planet.
Come and join a growing campaign team. We’re determined to win this seat back this time, to make the difference, to build a brighter future.
Many people say “you politicians are all the same”. That statement has never been more untrue. The choice here is stark:
Andrew George - Standing up for Cornwall
National campaigner, local campaigner, former MP.
Andrew describes his role - "Seeking out the silent voices. Standing up to bullies. Fighting for justice”
Liberal Democrats - Building a brighter future
"We're a western democracy. We should be saying things as they are. Not the opposite of the truth..."
twitter.com
““David Frost probably knows more about Scotch whisky than he knows about Northern Ireland.” Jonathan Powell, a chief British government negotiator for the Good Friday Agreement, tells @krishgm ...
Sensible and pragmatic pledge which will help to not only protect the vulnerable and our NHS but also our economy and business sectors from the need for further draconian lockdowns.
This initiative would not be necessary if the Government had acted responsibly and embraced established good practice and law
twitter.com/IndependentSage/status/1524738972588527617/photo/1
So many people now not wearing masks. It saddens me that they either understand so little about the need for them, or just don’t care about anyone else.
I agree with you about many things Andrew, but not this. Countries which on paper were far more "responsible" have had outcomes which were worse. Far better now to focus on improving public health and fitness than papering over Covid cracks. Where is the government's meaningful plan to tackle obesity? Where is the funding for cheap access to leisure centres? Why has the action to tackle BOGOF junk food offers been pushed back? This would make far more difference than businesses "pledging to protect staff, users and customers from Covid" (what does that even mean in practice anyway?)
The government acting responsibly and embracing good practice? Fat chance of that.
Shirley Williams was an outstanding voice for principle, integrity and kindness. She was as kind and thoughtful towards others behind the scenes when the cameras were off as she was in public. An inspiration and mentor.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Absolutely, well said, Andrew! One of my heroines 💕💕💕 Her mother, Vera Brittain, must have been an inspiration to her…..
A wonderful lady who it was a great privilege to meet.
Lovely lady. Honest, caring, kind….everything the Tories aren’t.
Not often I get to write headlines for the Daily Mail, let alone get quoted. Wasn't on my bucket list...
What the Conservatives announced today will NOT a "crack-down" on second homes. It's a con. They're merely bringing forward by one year a doubling of council tax on EMPTY homes, which is a different and more complex matter than second/holiday and Airbnb homes. In fact, their proposals will have the opposite effect, as more second homers will 'flip' their property investment from council tax to business rates and claim tax exemption.
All they're doing, is merely bringing forward by one year the existing doubling of council tax on EMPTY homes; which is a different (and complex) matter than second/holiday homes.
More than half of Cornwall's second homes don't just NOT pay any Council tax anyway, but they don't pay ANYTHING. And the Conservatives won't really do anything to discourage that! It costs the rest of us £15 million a year in Cornwall to subsidise second home owners who use the business rate relief loophole to avoid paying anything. Then they received another £170 million+ of Cornwall's covid aid. It's hard to think of a less deserving case for this taxpayer funded charity! I warned the Tories at the beginning of the pandemic. But they ignored it and just carried on paying out. In short; it's a scandal followed by a con.
'Doubling council tax isn't enough', say fed-up locals of beauty spots
Local authorities are expected to be handed powers to hike charges when properties are not either regularly used or let out by their owners for at least 70 days per year.
I once had a front page story in the Daily Mail - but had to avoid getting my name mentioned as it involved one of our largest clients. It was about fights in Tesco over the discounted fruit & veg when it got wheeled out. I mentioned it to Fiona McTaggart (then my MP), she mentioned it in parliament and then the Mail latched onto the story...
I think our council need to introduce a letting license which would make it a offence to offer a home for holiday let without one. ( exclusive use only so doesn’t effect room rental or b&b hotels etc) Cost of license £3000 cash raised for new affordable homes £15m per year. Also get control over how many homes and where they are. Second homes can only be covered by using planning laws. Eg if the home is in full time occupancy you need a change of use to sell it as a second home. The “new” legislation is just rubbish. The conservative council leader was on the radio yesterday and should have been asked “ how many empty homes have they taxed under the current rule of two years, none I expect!
I just wonder, who will police the new builds, as being occupied as a full time, main residence and not a second home or holiday let. There is enough empty houses, seemingly new builds not occupied breaking this local rule, with no one being bought to task, or enforcing this rule.
....the Tory supporters are always the ones who benefit from how they interpret what needs to be changed....
Adding to that the local hunt who illegally hunt our wildlife scrounged the 2 x 10 grand covid grands but in parliament they said the hunts bring in revenue 🤔
Richard Evans
The Conservatives claim they’ll “crack-down” on second homers and “punish” them with double council tax. However, I regret this is just empty spin. Their proposals will neither hasten nor discourage the present industrial-level exploitation of the massive rewards and tax advantages available to second home property investors. Benefits gained by them but to the detriment of the communities they colonise and the locals who are ejected to make way.
They've spent decades denying there’s a problem and rejecting proposals to introduce new (planning use class) laws to control the problem and promote housing justice. However, the Conservatives were finally shamed into admitting that their laws which allow wealthy second homers to use tax-loopholes to avoid paying either council tax or business rates were unfair. But that was in 2018. And while they’ve repeatedly made extravagant statements that they’ll close the loophole, nothing has actually happened. Except that they’ve doled-out multi-million covid aid to them (over £170 million of Cornwall’s Covid-aid alone). And what they do propose will have virtually no impact anyway.
This latest announcement amounts to more of the same. Regulations to double council tax on empty properties already exist and will be devilishly difficult to apply to second homes. There’s nothing behind the spin. Just words which they hope will help detoxify the Tory brand.
If the £billions which second homers have taken advantage of were instead being paid out to poor benefit recipients or asylum seekers the Tories would have clamped down on it long ago.
The Conservatives' policies betray their values. If you’re wealthy and you have an underused second home the Conservatives reward you with £billions in tax advantages (and covid aid). But if you’re poor and the Conservatives deem that you under-utilise your Council house, they’ll penalise you with the bedroom tax.
Second homes "crack-down" is just more empty spin. - Andrew George
www.andrewgeorge.org.uk
Conservative Party claims that they’ll “crack-down” on second homers and “punish” them with double council tax is just empty face-saving spin. Their proposals will neither hasten nor discour...Doubling of council tax will not deter people buying second homes. I think there needs to be a complete stop.
I note your comment on covid payments for home letting businesses. Personally I don’t believe any money should have been given to the holiday home sector as unlike pubs and restaurants they could still trade by letting the homes to local people who are in desperate need.
Business rates for holiday lets, in other words in many cases paying virtually nothing, needs to stop. They should pay council tax.
Average band D council tax is 1,966 (.gov website) divide by 12 = 164ish pounds per month. The first St. Ives holiday let on a search of Bookings.com was 888pounds (1 bed) for four nights. Double council tax is a meaningless act which will do nothing to affect the housing difficulties locals have been facing for many years.
Common Platform for Cornwall
