Revitalise High Streets with Sensible Rate Reform
As a chartered accountant I've seen firsthand the struggles small businesses face with the current business rates system. It's outdated and fails to account for the complexities of local economies. We need a more nuanced approach that considers factors like footfall, profit margins, and local economic conditions.
I propose a hybrid system where businesses pay a base rate, supplemented by a performance-related element. This way, thriving businesses contribute a bit more, while struggling ones get a break. It's about fairness and giving local businesses a chance to flourish. The current system is a blunt instrument that's driving some businesses to the wall.
The benefits of this approach are twofold: it would help small businesses stay afloat during tough times, and it would also encourage entrepreneurship and investment in our high streets.
Scrap University Tuition Fees Already
I think it's time we scrapped university tuition fees for good, it's a no-brainer that they're pricing out kids from poorer backgrounds and it's just not right. The current system is basically a tax on learning and it's putting people off going to uni in the first place. We should be encouraging people to get an education, not making it harder for them to afford.
The thing is, tuition fees were always meant to be a temporary fix, but they've just become a permanent burden on students and their families. And let's be honest, the people who are really suffering are the ones who can't afford to take on the debt, they're the ones who need the education the most. It's not like the fees are even going towards improving the universities, most of it just gets sucked up in bureaucracy and admin costs.
Scrap the HS2 White Elephant
I'm proposing we cancel the HS2 project and divert the funds to upgrading our existing rail network, it's a no-brainer when you look at the costs and benefits. The current plans are going to soak up over a hundred billion pounds, which could be better spent on fixing the potholes and delays that plague our daily commutes.
We need to prioritize the transport needs of the many over the vanity project of the few, and that means investing in the lines and stations that people use every day. I'm not against progress, but I am against wasting money on a high-speed line that will only benefit a tiny fraction of the population, and that's being generous.
The existing rail network is creaking under the strain of demand, and it's only going to get worse if we don't do something about it. By upgrading the lines and signals, we could increase capacity and reduce journey times, making a real difference to people's lives.
Bin collection chaos is just the start – we need to get serious about local recycling
I was out with the kids the other day, trying to explain why we can't just chuck everything in one bin. We'd just seen another lorry overflowing with bags, probably heading straight to landfill, and it felt like a joke. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to do your bit at home, separating paper from plastic, only to see it all mixed up again. It makes you wonder if it's even worth the effort, and that's a dangerous thought to have when we're facing environmental challenges.
My proposal is to create a national, standardised recycling scheme. This means one set of rules for what can and can't be recycled, no matter where you live. Councils should be mandated to provide clear, consistent information, and perhaps even a dedicated app, detailing exactly what goes in which bin.
What do you think?
Vote on individual policies, adapt them, or write your own alternative. Good ideas should be tested.