Trevor Cooper

Likes walking, train journeys, church buildings. Chair @hrballiance. Views my own.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@Petra20250339 Burpham, West Sussex. Village in the Downs.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Thursday. So my day to open the church. But not today, as it’s full of scaffolding. Part of our Victorian ceiling fell down, and now the whole things needs inspecting. Cost of scaffolding before work even begins: £10,000. Number of people living in the village: 100.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

So here we are, a few of us paying out of our own pocket for an important ancient building freely open to the public – and then part of our donation going in tax. We’ll manage. But it’s a funny old world.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

To spell it out, we can’t register for VAT because we don’t charge for entrance (churches very rarely do – no turnstiles, and, anyway, hospitality is their thing). Museums which don’t charge for entrance can reclaim VAT, but not churches.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@SimoninSuffolk But Simon, that reduces my royalties (currently running circa 50 quid per annum) - best to wait until the sale is over, in my view . . .

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Thursday. Still my day to open the church. Thank you Sandra for wonderful Remembrance Day flowers. Is church flower arranging part of our intangible heritage?

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@QcWynter @itto13bitty Can Fife unilaterally withdraw?

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Thursday. My day to open the church. After ten years, finally got round to lying flat on my back on the chancel floor. Why has tiny Burpham got a vaulted chancel? And what would the ?12C mason make of what I'm doing now?

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@nmdacosta @FaithStanhope Thank you for your sterling work on this. It has been eye-opening and the process deeply concerning. Going forward, on what basis does the Speaker accept amendments for Report Stage? Would wrecking amendments be permitted? Will you be tracking proposed amendments? (hope so!!!).

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@NeilDotObrien Westminster Hall Debate on the Scheme on Weds 22nd Jan. https://t.co/iouTe8lRnc

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Thursday. My day to open the church. Christmas tree being delivered. Hmmm . . . must do my cards.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@SteveReedMP What is the relevance of this statistic to farmers wishing to pass on - not sell - the family farm?
Incidentally is it true that Defra were not consulted on this tax change? Did you agree to it - or were you outside the charmed circle?

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@SimoninSuffolk @todbooklady Go for it! My royalties will pay for extra mince pies.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Poppies for Remembrance Day yesterday here at our village church in Burpham West Sussex.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@BishopSouthwark @phillipsc @SouthwarkCofE Thank you Bishop. As a layman in a small rural parish, I think this is the opposite of helpful.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

Thursday. So my day to open the church. Kicking the fallen leaves as I walk up the lane. Autumn nicely captured by the church creative team at the prayer station. Kick the leaves as I walk back.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@BristOliver Not sure. There was a gasp in the House when she said about the threshold change.

[Trevor Cooper @TrvrCooper]

@DanNeidle @CarolineMack18 @CutMyTaxUK What is the typical rate of return from farm land? I thought it was about 2%, but perhaps I'm wrong.