On a colder day, with icy northern winds, with a widespread frost expected, I stayed in for much of it working on my investments before more election organising and then a late planning meeting at Pathfinder House. Caretaker Jack Edwards saw my sister Freda and her family settle in to Heronshaw and took her son Chris to the pub.
Secretary of the Environment, Chris Patten, named the local authorities to be "capped" by restriction of their Poll Tax precepts to an outcry from the opposition, as the list of 20 authorities included no Tory councils, and was condemned by The Metropolitan and County Council Associations as being politically biased. The Strangeways Prison riot was still continuing, with seven prison officers were injured, the day after Iraq's weapons threat, Israel has launched its second satellite into orbit
I had a tough day today and was not very much encouraged by the weather taking a turn for the colder with icy winds coming down from the north. I stayed in during the day, first doing some financial calculations necessary at the end of the budget year. I was all set to sell some securities to take advantage of my capital gains tax exemptions but then worked out that, with indexation, it was not worth doing. I did decide, however, to get information on the new British Airways secured tenancy scheme for which I could have up to £40,000 tax relief under the Business Expansion Scheme.
** PRESS "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **
As nominations closed at noon, we had confirmation today that we are having a straight fight with the Conservatives in our three main target wards, with no Labour or Green candidate standing which is a great achievement and will probably mean that we will win all three. Then more paperwork and, after lunch, Jack Taylor came over and we spent all afternoon on the second Bury election leaflet. A quick tea and then I had to rush off to Pathfinder House to an evening planning meeting on the Local Plan, which is important for the future development of the area. It was a long and drawn out meeting which showed no sign of getting around to the topics that I was allowed to speak on and so I gave up on it at about 9.30pm and came home. I did, however, get to see Carole Crompton and to give her the draft copy of her election leaflet and to brief her on the latest Ramsey by-pass developments and so it was not a complete waste of time.
Because of this meeting, I could not get up to Norfolk where Freda, Alf and Chris Butterfield had arrived by taxi from Devon by 6.30pm. I had arranged for Jack Edwards, my caretaker, to be there, however, and he had helped them in and to access the boat-house and garage to switch on the gas and be able to store things when the removal van arrives tomorrow. Jack had also taken young Chris up to his house to show him where he was in case of any need and then he took him on the The Black Horse for a drink to make him feel at home which was very nice of him.
The main story today was the announcement by the Secretary of the Environment, Chris Patten, of the names of the local authorities to be "capped" by restriction of their Poll Tax precepts. To outcry from the opposition, the list of 20 authorities included no Tory councils, a result that had been achieved by using special criteria. This has been condemned by Labour and the Metropolitan and County Council Associations as being politically biased and damaging to the idea of the accountability of Local Government.
The Strangeways Prison riot is still continuing, and seven prison officers were injured in a 2-hour struggle to regain possession of one of the wings. The day after Iraq's weapons threat, Israel has launched its second satellite into orbit, underwriting its advanced rocket and space capabilities. The Bishop of Durham, Dr David Jenkins, one of the candidates for nomination by the Prime Minister to take over as Archbishop of Canterbury, has made a call for the established link between church and state to be abolished. The day ended dry but cold with a widespread frost expected.