FEC, Former Chair of Cricket Wales, love Pontypool RFC, #UpTheMonks
Usk
Joined March 2017
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Rod Jones retweeted
A Burnham claimed yesterday that the 2016 vote for Brexit ushered in a decade of low growth.
He’s right that there’s been low growth, though not just in Britain, which suggests Brexit is not quite the explanation he thinks it is.
I think Brexiteers hard pressed to show that Brexit has been good for growth.
But Remainers lack evidence it has crippled or undermined growth.
In the decade from mid-2016 til mid-2026, the UK had the 3rd biggest growth in real GDP (13%) of the G7. Well behind the US (27%) and Canada (20%) but ahead of France (12%), Italy 10%, Germany 8%, and Japan (6%).
I think we can all agree Japan made a big mistake leaving the EU.
Rod Jones retweeted
FYI, the surge in gilt yields today is partly catch up from yesterday's sharp rises in the US/EU on global inflation and rate fears.
But it's still striking that the cost of UK government borrowing is so much higher than elsewhere, and when Andrew Griffith was in the Treasury!
Rod Jones retweeted
“The inefficiency of political control of an economy has been demonstrated more often, in more places, and under more varied conditions, than almost anything outside the realm of pure science.”
— Thomas Sowell
Rod Jones retweeted
In the 24 months since Labour came to power, we've seen;
• Employer National Insurance increased from 13.8% to 15%.
• The employer NI threshold cut from £9,100 to £5,000.
• Income Tax and National Insurance thresholds frozen until 2031.
• Capital Gains Tax increased from 10% and 20% to 18% and 24%.
• Business Asset Disposal Relief increased from 10% to 14%, then 18%.
• Investors’ Relief increased and its lifetime allowance cut from £10 million to £1 million.
• Carried interest taxation increased and moved towards the Income Tax regime.
• Dividend tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Savings-income tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Property-income tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Most unused pension funds brought into the Inheritance Tax net.
• Agricultural Property Relief restricted.
• Business Property Relief restricted.
• Inheritance Tax thresholds frozen for longer.
• The non-dom regime replaced with a more extensive residence-based system.
• VAT imposed on private school fees.
• Business-rates relief removed from private schools.
• Stamp Duty increased on second homes and buy-to-let properties.
• The Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime abolished.
• Pension salary-sacrifice benefits capped at £2,000 before National Insurance applies.
• The Cash ISA allowance cut to £12,000 for most under-65s.
• A 22% charge introduced on interest from cash held inside non-cash ISAs.
• Restrictions introduced on transfers and cash-like holdings within ISAs.
• The Energy Profits Levy increased and extended.
• Investment allowances for oil and gas producers reduced.
• A new Vaping Products Duty introduced.
• Tobacco duties increased above inflation.
• Vehicle Excise Duty increased for many new cars.
• Electric vehicles brought into the Vehicle Excise Duty system.
• A new mileage tax announced for electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
• Air Passenger Duty increased.
• Climate Change Levy rates increased.
• Plastic Packaging Tax increased.
• A new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism introduced.
• Making Tax Digital extended to more landlords and self-employed people.
Together they represent one of the biggest transfers of wealth from households and businesses to the Treasury in decades - with no noticeable improvement in public services.
Whether you're a business owner employing staff, a parent paying school fees, a farmer planning succession, an entrepreneur building wealth or simply someone trying to save for retirement...
You keep less of what you earn.
You keep less of what you invest.
You leave less to your family.
Death by a thousand cuts is becoming tax policy.
Rod Jones retweeted
6th August, 2009
The Parachute Regiment lost these 3 brave men when their vehicle struck an IED in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan
Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 25 from Alloa
Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23 from Redditch
Private Kyle Adams, 21 from Torfaen
Lest we Forget them 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧
Rod Jones retweeted
Reminder that Britain went from being the slowest-growing European economy in the 1970s to the fastest-growing in the 1980s.
Rod Jones retweeted
Chart of the Day 🤓
Andy Burnham: "if we don’t have sufficient public control over the cost of the essentials, how can we have control over inflation?"
Reality: prices have risen much more sharply in sectors with greater state intervention than in those led by market forces 👇
Rod Jones retweeted
Keir Starmer — ever a man of his word til the end.
In June 2023 he explicitly ruled out ever indulging in a resignation honours list (BBC Radio 4 Today).
Today he’s marked his resignation with 21 peerages, overwhelmingly public-sector/legal jobsworths. Barely a single wealth creator among them.
Classic line up of the New Establishment which has run the country under Labour and Tory governments for the past three decades and is now firmly in control. Largely (if not entirely) with the following characteristics:
*Career almost entirely in public sector, often taking salaries from several sinecures at once as they work up the greasy taxpayer-funded pole.
*Associated with various ‘right-on’ causes.
*Largely middle class, London chattering class, Oxbridge well represented (of course).
*Fashionable left but not too left. Good mainstream Labour links.
Thus is the antediluvian House of Lords perpetuated by the Left as well as the Right as a comfortable state-funded retirement home for the well-connected ‘good and great’ past their sell-by date — when it should simply be abolished.
Rod Jones retweeted
Two Independent Schools Close for Every Privately-Educated Labour MP in the Commons order-order.com/2026/07/06/t…
Rod Jones retweeted
We tax cigarettes to reduce smoking.
We tax alcohol to reduce drinking.
We tax fuel to reduce driving.
What do you think happens when you tax employing people and running a business?
Rod Jones retweeted
Depressing to see tired old ideas coming forward from Andy Burnham & his high profile economic advisers - Haldane & O’Neill. Higher spending on infrastructure + more fiscal devolution will not rescue the UK economy. Burnham will need to have better ideas to improve UK prospects.
Rod Jones retweeted
A welcoming present just out this morning for a Mr A Burnham to underline just how limited his latitude as PM will be:
The UK government borrowed £23.3 billion last month, 30 per cent or £5.4 billion higher than a year earlier.
It was also more than the £18.8 billion expected by most economists and the £17.7 billion forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK’s independent fiscal watchdog.
The interest payable on government debt rose to £11.7 billion, the highest ever recorded in any May.
Rod Jones retweeted
You look at Labour this week and wonder if anyone in government is thinking straight.
Assisted dying back in Parliament. Labour MPs planning a “summer of sex”. Billions for cycle lanes while defence is underfunded.
It’s like the Labour students union is running the country.
Britain needs focus. Defence. Energy. Work. Security. Growth.
So I’m giving a speech at 11am today on how we solve the problem of Defence funding.
The Conservatives are doing the hard thinking because our country deserves better than gimmicks, drift and fatuous nonsense.
Rod Jones retweeted
@AlistairCarns had a distinguished military career. It is damning that Benn, Starmer, Hermer, Reeves and others would not listen to him on lawfare, the Northern Ireland Bill, on defence transformation or on financial resources; and all credit to this RM veteran for stepping into the breach and his resignation on principle.
His dynamite resignation, on the back of the Healey exit represents the necessary detonation of a political bomb under UK defence; highlighting how screwed up it all really is, how badly Starmer is lying to the country, and how totally irresponsible is this @UKLabour government.
Carns is very right on the big things, the MoD and the “centre” are not facing reality on the changing technologies of war, they are not getting the resources they need and they are not defending veterans from lawfare. On this latter and vital point, this is led and encouraged by the UK’s own Attorney General as chief back-stabber.
For this, Hermer should be the next to go. And by the way, don’t expect much from the Starmer-loyalist, ex-Para Jarvis….not every Politician has the guts to do what Carns and Healey have just done…
Rod Jones retweeted
Anyone else hearing mutterings of the potential need for a... (and I am attempting to stifle hysterical laughter here) "Strategic Defence Review Refresh"?
This is not something that's being talked about officially as far as I can tell. But the mere fact it is even being rumoured in the margins is enough to make me want to scream or weep or both!
Apparently, the thinking is that a refresh might be needed because so much time has passed since the SDR came out + the chronic delay in the Defence Investment Plan. And then there is the whole possible change of PM.
Hmmmmm. Good job defence is completely sorted already. Oh wait. No. You're right. It is not...
Rod Jones retweeted
Within hours of being announced as the nominee to be the U.S. Director of the CIA, I received a hand-delivered message on MI6 stationery congratulating me on my nomination. It was signed simply "C" in green ink. Legendary. I shared it with my son and even he thought I was now cool!
More than that, this note, from Sir Alex Younger, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, confirmed what I already believed: the work that the CIA and MI6 did together mattered, that the partnership was critical, and that two leaders focused on the mission could save lives and provide tools for our nations to deter our adversaries.
Alex's passing this week brought back so many memories of our time in service together. He flew to Langley to see me the day I was confirmed. We brought our two senior teams together in the UK to plan and coordinate and build in the first several weeks of my time on duty: making clear to them all that this relationship was more than special - it was critical for the security of our two countries.
Alex was a remarkable intelligence partner. When we needed help, it wasn't "let me see;" it was "this matters to you and America we'll get it done." And he and his team always did. I think he knew we would do the same for him and his team and his nation. Many Americans are alive today because of his leadership of MI6, I never knew how to thank him enough.
Alex became a friend as well. In the years since we both left office we would see each other from time to time. He was always so kind, so thoughtful, so smart. His deep love of his country was surpassed only by his deep commitment and love of his family. Decent and proper - and funny as hell - Alex was "C." As espionage requires, he was quiet, not attention seeking. He knew what evil was and he was ruthless in his efforts to crush it with every legal tool at his command. And he knew who his friends were and committed himself to supporting them.
I miss Sir Alex Younger. He was a role model for me and a man with whom every minute I spent was valued and savored. Blessings to you Alex. Praying for you and for your family. Well done and may you rest in peace in His hands.
