I’ve been having meetings this week - and over the last few months - with @hmtreasury@DCMS@mhclg on @alva_uk asks for the Budget on behalf the attractions sector, broader arts, culture, heritage and nature sectors and members, and #UKtourism.
Our asks include: •re-introduce tax free-shopping for overseas visitors as a matter of urgency as we are losing £millions to near European neighbours
•encourage local authorities and Metro Mayors to ring-fence the monies raised from the overnight visitor levy for investment in culture, heritage and tourism
•make the 10% VAT cut for visitor attractions implemented this Summer permanent, and extend it to hospitality. The last-minute Summer cut had very few beneficial effects for ALVA member customers, created lots of hassle and cost for attractions, put charities at a competitive disadvantage, and did not actually seem to prompt visits but a permanent cut would transform our sectors
•abolish VAT on heritage repairs
•take a root and branch review of business rates
•create a Cultural Recovery Fund-style injection of cash for local authority museums, galleries, heritage sites and green spaces to protect them from further cuts and to build their financial sustainability
•encourage DCMS to make the Arts Council England settlement for the next NPO round reflective of the fact that the current settlement has been to continue years of stand-still cash and so, in real terms, has been a significant cut to recipients as it has not taken account of inflation.
We wait with hope.
What is going on @BBCNews Angela Raynor paid the wrong stamp duty and you were on her like a dog with bone. Farage is on film accepting massive illegal overseas payments and you look the other way. WHY am I paying a licence fee for this rubbish?
@Nigel_Farage Cat check: Nigel Farage unsuccessfully stood for Parliament in the following constituencies
Eastleigh, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bexhill & Battle, East Sussex
South Thanet, Kent
Bromley and Chislehurst, London
Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
South Thanet, Kent (again)
Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and complaining about the museums. Or moving to Hackney and grumbling about creatives. Living in Richmond and hating green space. It's all getting a bit silly, isn't it?
Almost 10,000 likes for straight-up lies by Annunziata Rees-Mogg, quote:
"Asylum seekers make up 0.08% of Dorset's population and 44% of alleged sex offences. So unbelievable I had to check. It's true."
It's not true, it's utter garbage.
I'll go through facts and figures. /1
Sharing, without comment, British newspapers’ depictions of the only Jewish person currently leading a UK political party .
Times. Mail. Telegraph. Sun.
We need your help to #SaveDenby!
We are sad to share that we may be forced to close and a British institution could be lost.
We need your help:
1. Share this post
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4. Visit us at the Pottery Village
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An illiterate quarry worker in 10,000 BC was able to afford this house and a car with a stay at home wife and a daughter.
This is what was taken from you.
Your usual reminder that the UCKG is an extraordinarily shady outfit. It is not clear what the money they collect is for or where it goes. They are collecting all over London today. Avoid.
Next time someone asks what's the matter with this site, show them this:
An account in India, amplifying a billionaire from South Africa being encouraged by an Irish passport holder, using an alias, to encourage civil unrest in the UK.
Let's not forget, Labour didn't create the economy we have today, in just one year of governing, they inherited it from the Tories. You can't shake off 14 years of bad decisions overnight.
@RupertLowe10 Most people saw the emergency services responding to a brutal crime and awaited the facts; you saw an opportunity to stoke hatred against immigrants before those details emerged. The authorities have now identified the suspects as UK nationals, born in Britain. Shame on you.