It's time to Claim Back the Union Jack.

The Union Flag, or "Jack"

With the London Olympics and Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee just around the corner, the shops are full of Union Jack merchandise.

As a Unionist I am proud to fly our flag as it is one of the most recognisable brands around the world.  It evokes images of what is described as typically British: London, the Mini, Tea to name but a few.

Then there is the BNP. 

Union means to "be together".  Britain is, and has always been, one of the most multicultural countries in the world.  Nowhere else could you travel a few hundred miles and experience different cultures.  

These small isles contain the whole world.  Some are afraid of this, I embrace it.

So here are some everyday british items that show why the Union Jack stands for Britishness and not the BNP:

London: Capital of the UK, formally known as Londinium and founded in AD43 by the Romans (Italian)

the Mini: Classic 60's British built car designed by Sir Alec Issigonis (Anglo-Greek)

Tea: from South and East Asia

Shampoo: Originally from India, introduced to Britain by Sake Dean Mahomed (Muslim)

Beer: According to ancient text, believed to originate in Egypt and Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq)

Pub: Origin: Roman Tabernae (Italian) and Anglo-Saxon Alehouses (German)

Bungalow: Derived from a Hindi word for "Bengali" style of house. (Hindi)

Pie and Mash: Pie (Greek), Mash (Peruvian)

Tomatoes: Peruvian

Bearskin Hat: made from bear skin (Canadian)

Parliament: derived from the word "parler", to talk or discuss (French)

Tower of London: Built by William the Conqueror (French/Danish) after the;

Battle of Hastings: William the Conqueror (French/Danish) beat King Harold II (Danish)

Victorian: The era of Queen Victoria, who's great grandfather was Fredrick, Prince of Wales (German)

These are just examples of our multicultural nation dating back over a thousand years, so if you have any others please let me know, oh yes, and please remind the BNP too.

It's time to Claim Back the Union Jack.

Sim City and the Case for Devolution of Business Rates

Sim City

While rummaging through some old things in the loft I came across an old favourite PC game - Sim City.  For those of you who have not played this game, and those of you who have political asparations, it teaches you basic skills in tax manipulation and the effects it has on the population of the city you create and run.

Example: Increase property tax = population decrease.  Increase Commercial Tax - Quality of life is depleted = population decrease - Increase tax on industry Unemployment goes up = population decrease.  You can also fund Welfare, Puplic Transport Police, Fire, Roads etc - but if you can't raise the tax revenue-you can't pay.  If the taxes are raised the population decreases and revenue falls = Game Over.

However this did get me thinking about business rates.  Why?  Because in the UK Local authorities have the ability to control the Residential Rates of Tax through council tax.  But the flaw is evident in that local authorities do not have the same control over commerce and industry.  These rates are set by the Welsh Government in Cardiff and collected through the local authorities to be redistributed.

In the afore mentioned game the governor gets to select the rates of tax for all elements of the Simulated City to win the game (goal being stay in the green and make everyone happy), but in reality the Local Authorities of Wales only have one of these controls - Residential = Council Tax.

It would be wise then that each local Authority takes control of its own setting of the business rate. I am a fan of Enterprise Zones because they provide areas for businesses to flourish due to the decreased tax demands, but if each Local Authority could control those very taxes then we would instantly generate 22 competitive Enterprise Zones in Wales, surely a great breading ground for business.