Latest news with #British-only
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jeremy Clarkson's pub customers left baffled over strict menu policy
The Farmer's Dog, which opened last year, has been widely praised but some diners were left unimpressed after noticing that certain items were missing from the menu Diners at Jeremy Clarkson's pub, The Farmer's Dog, have been scratching their heads over the venue's rather unique policy. Since its launch last year, the establishment has scooped up a heap of praise from patrons, with plenty leaving top-notch feedback. However, the absence of items such as ketchup and Coca-Cola from the menu left some guests less than thrilled. The pub takes pride in serving only British produce as a way to back UK farmers, which means certain everyday condiments are off the list. Despite Clarkson regularly speaking out on his uncompromising business strategy, it's clear a few punters missed the memo. One miffed reviewer grumbled about the limited drink options: "drinks are limited, no cola, pepsi, lemonade or coffee", while another bemoaned the lack of seasonings: "(I) asked for some pepper and was told, 'sorry no!!'" as another said: "Ate 3 mouthfuls and that was enough". Another source of more upbeat feedback later expressed disappointment: "Sadly they do not have pepper or coffee - both items I really missed. It was strange not to have a coffee after my meal, and I always have pepper on my veg," according to the Daily Mail. This customer went on to say although they understood Clarkson's choice to stick to local goods, the absence of pepper and coffee felt 'extreme'. Clarkson's staunch refusal to stray even slightly from his principles is reportedly costing him a tenner per dining guest at the eatery, as locally sourced offerings come with a heftier price tag. Penning his thoughts for The Times, the former Top Gear presenter observed: "Now, a business-minded person would look at these costs and realise that with British-only rules in place, a hotdog was going to be priced at about £45. "But I'm not a business-minded person. So I just filled my heart with hope, asked an AI program to work out what the average price of lunch in a Cotswolds pub is and just charged that. It's possible that for every customer who comes through the door I'd lose about £10," he admitted. This follows an incident earlier this year when Clarkson caused a stir after a viral video revealed he was charging a staggering £200 for a pie at his farm shop and pub. An Instagram video filmed inside the popular Oxfordshire Diddly Squat shop features an 'extra, extra large' meat pie which is priced at a whopping £199.99. A video, narrated by The Skeptics Take, showed the pie and price tag and said: "Enough pie to throw at your neighbour for 200 quid." The clip, which started off by showing the The Farmer's Dog sign at the farm, saw a visitor walk through the farm shop and reveal the prices of some of the goods on offer. "I went to Jeremy Clarkson's pub and farm shop so you don't have to," a voiceover states. The video shows how visitors to the pub must pay £2 for parking in a 'muddy field', which sparked controversy among viewers. The voiceover informed viewers that after paying for parking, visitors could choose from "an array of overpriced souvenirs that will end up in your bin". It then showcased various items available for purchase, including a Christmas candle for £22 with the branding: "This smells like my Christmas balls". It then turns to a stack of large pies on a countertop, ranging from large to extra extra large. While a large pie is priced at 'merely' £46.15, the extra extra large version is up for grabs at a staggering £200.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cash ISA debate continues - now the UK's first ISA millionaire backs cutting savings allowance
Rachel Reeves could be about to cut the limits that people in the UK can save into a cash ISA, with the current limit of £20,000 per year potentially facing a dramatic reduction to £4,000. Currently, the £20,000 allowance per person is the total for across all Isa products - including lifetime, or stocks and shares among others - but individuals are free to decide how to allocate the amounts they save or invest in each (within allowed limits) according to preference, need or risk tolerance. The potential cut to cash Isa allowances is intended to drive people toward investing in stocks and shares Isas, with investing generally offering better returns than savings over the long haul - but also requiring more knowledge from those using them and having more risk of losing money. Ms Reeves has already spoken to City executives about possible changes and a wider debate continues to go on over Isa reform in general, not limited to only cash products. Now, the UK's first Isa millionaire has entered the argument - and while not suggesting a cut as dramatic as Reeves' potential plan, says the allowance for cash savings should be halved in Isas and even that stocks and shares products should be limited to buying British-only companies. Speaking to the Financial Times, 82-year-old Lord John Lee said that the 'whole purpose of Isas originally was to encourage saving and they have been a huge success. We do want to encourage people to save and if they want to save in a cash Isa, then fine. But the tax advantages [should not be] as attractive as [a stocks and shares] Isas.' Mr Lee started investing in the Isa's precursor, the personal equity plan, in the late 1980s, the FT reports. Investing the maximum amounts allowed and reinvesting the dividends earned - therefore utilising the powerful process of compounding - meant that by 2003, his Isa was worth £1m from an original total investment of £126,000. Isas are particularly beneficial to both savers and investors because all money earned - dividends, capital gains or interest - are tax-free. Therefore when earnings are rolled back into the equation time after time, your interest earning more interest or your paid dividends earning further gains in future sees compounding have more of an effect with each passing year. This is the reason that Ms Reeves' insistence that the UK needs a 'culture of investing' makes sense in theory, but sweeping or immediate reforms do not suddenly create this culture, which requires education and time. 'Financial education has been abysmal and we should all be worried that more of our young people are [aware of] cryptocurrencies than traditional forms of investment,' added Mr Lee. He further suggested that his ideas for reforming the Isa line wouldn't 'dramatically affect [people's] personal circumstances in terms of having money for emergencies or house deposits' but said it would encourage people to take a long-term view. On older savers who did not want to invest for fear of risk and losing money needed in later years, Mr Lee said it was a 'necessary complication' to ensure other generations did invest. HMRC data showed two-thirds of people saving into a Cash Isa in 2021/22 put under £5,000 across the year. Meanwhile, after the Building Societies Association told Ms Reeves they would be strongly against any proposals to reduce the Cash Isa allowance, another City executive has spoken out in favour of the cut. The boss of Schroders, an investment firm with around £770bn worth of assets under management, said that the level playing field between savings and investing allowances was an 'anomoly' which should be altered. 'We all accept that we need to grow the UK economy. And to grow the UK economy we probably need more risk-taking than we have today,' said Richard Oldfield. 'If we take the amount of money that goes into Isas, that is a huge tax credit that we're all paying for and at the moment a large portion of that is going into cash Isas. Over any time period that creates a worse investment outcome for our clients than actually having it in an investment Isa. 'So I think it is a really important debate to have. Having the levels equal is a bit of an anomaly.'
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
British-only lines at airport passport control would lead to longer queues, minister argues
A Home Office minister has criticised the idea of creating dedicated lines for British passport holders at UK airports, stating that it would lead to longer queues. Analysis showed such a move would "have a negative impact on border fluidity", Labour's Lord Hanson of Flint told parliament during a debate in the Lords Chamber on Monday, 3 March. Lord Hanson was responding to a call by prominent Brexiteer Baroness Hoey for UK citizens to have dedicated lines for British passport holders at UK airports, arguing it was "a principle about people coming back into their own country". Lord Hanson said: "The Home Office has previously reviewed the potential for the introduction of UK-only queues, most recently during the period when the UK left the EU. 'Analysis conducted has found that it would have a negative impact on border fluidity. However, we keep our border systems under review." But pressing the minister to publish this assessment, Lady Hoey added: 'I wonder if he agrees that it is not really about length of queues and waiting times, it is a principle about people coming back into their own country, just as happens all over world. Will he look again at this? 'UK citizens coming in should be given their own British entry point, unlike what is happening at the moment.' In reply, Lord Hanson said: 'If we had a British-only queue, we would have longer queues for British citizens. That is not what I want to see.' Labour former minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock argued that as a prominent Brexit campaigner, Lady Hoey had 'a bit of a brass neck' in asking the question. Referring to a metal necklace she was wearing, he added: 'She is appropriately wearing the right jewellery to show it.' But in a slapdown to his backbench colleague, Lord Hanson said: 'I know that he will reflect on his comments and understand that the politics that may divide us do not go down to what individuals wear in the chamber. I hope that he can accept that.' The minister added: 'Lady Hoey took a principled stand on Brexit. It is a stand that I disagreed with. I voted and campaigned for Remain, but she took that stand and won. 'There are consequences to that Brexit agreement that the government are currently looking at.' He went on: 'The differences between Lady Hoey and me are stark, but I hope we can deal with them in a civilised manner.' Cobra Beer founder and independent crossbencher Lord Bilimoria said: 'We are one of the few countries that do not have exit checks. In most other countries, you scan your passport when you leave the country as well. 'Would that not be a good idea from a security point of view in having control over our borders and immigration and, for example, students coming in and out? It would help us to be on top of the figures.' Lord Hanson said: 'That is an extremely sensible suggestion and one that I advocated 15 years ago when we were in government in 2009-10 and looking at that issue.' 'It is important that we know who comes in and goes out. One of our current migration challenges is people overstaying, so a main focus for the Government is how we can reduce that impact and make sure that people are in the UK legally at all times,' he added. Meanwhile, Conservative peer Lord Moylan questioned the operation of the Common Travel Area with Ireland. 'When I fly from an Irish airport into Heathrow, I do not get asked to present my passport on arrival, in compliance with the Common Travel Area arrangements of which we are a member,' he said. 'However, when I take a direct flight from a British airport to an Irish airport, I am required to queue up and show my passport. 'Has the minister recently had discussions with the Irish government about whether they are fulfilling their obligations under the Common Travel Area in a fully reciprocal way?' 'My understanding is that for movement between Ireland and the UK there is currently no border control,' Lord Hanson replied. He added: 'If he wishes to give me outside this chamber an example of where the Irish government have checked passports, I will certainly look at that, investigate it and report back to him and, if need be, to the House in due course.'
