The government is out to blame the oil and gas companies and the food retailers for price gouging when it is government actions and high taxes that are putting up the cost of living. High business rates for shops and a big tax rise on jobs compounds the problems. High energy prices and carbon taxes threaten many UK businesses. The failure to provide enough police to stop a tidal wave of shop lifting and violence in stores adds to the private sector misery.
I usually undertake a weekly food shop in one of three national chains with stores in my area, rotating between them to stay in touch and hear from them on how things are going. This week I went to a store which offered me £12 off £80, so I decided to restock some items that can be stored to get up to the spend level.
I also optimised the spend by using in store shelf edge promotions. It meant I could buy around £90 of goods for £68 combining £10 of product promotions with the £12 voucher. That was a useful 24% discount which helps with the weekly budget. What a contrast with the grasping wasteful Lib Dem Council demanding 5% more of my money under threat of imprisonment for non payment. They specialise in spending on road wrecking and bad investments that annoy me greatly. My Council Tax bill along with all the other people’s bills is way above the value of what they do for the local community.
The state is by far and away my biggest cost as I work away to pay the soaring tax bills. They never offer a discount for early payment or for good conduct or for not using some of their services which are badly run or pointless. There is no government loyalty card.
A lot of smaller shops, restaurants and pubs are closing thank to high taxes and the squeeze on consumers. This is visible on our shrinking High Streets. So too are many of our high energy using industries. Denby’s ceramics went under this week, adding to the rout in that industry. Royal Staffordshire and Heraldic have also gone recently and Moorcroft needed refinancing. The government does not care as it bulldozes its way through the private sector, blaming it for its own disasters.
April 2, 2026
When you say ‘Denby’s ceramics went under this week’ do you mean it is an example of concealed unemployment being converted into real unemployment?
Reply No. It is another casualty of rip off energy taxes
April 2, 2026
The deconstruction of western society is continuing at pace, thanks to the Marxist ideology adopted by left aligned state institutions and fed by a hard left government who sees no social danger in what they are doing.
If we can not change the mindset of the left there will be desperate times ahead as western civilisation is driven to accommodate draconian state controls and forced into behaviours alien to our culture and history.
It is becoming very troubling.
April 2, 2026
I am pleased to see Starmer is now showing a bit of honesty and making clear his intention to rejoin the EU. Clearly he believes this is a master policy to quell the left rebellion, reduce losses at the locals in May and be the reason he keeps his position. His delusion will be his downfall. His lack of understanding of the true feelings of the nation will become clear. This is the open goal for Ms Badenoch and Reform to tell the nation why he is wrong, the increased costs the EU causes and loss of control of our future.