news opinion
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy
So said Ernest Benn, and possibly Groucho Marx. A phrase from the 1920s that might resonate today.
As we closed for press, the Government of Theresa May had just called a snap election for June 8 – to ‘secure a strong and stable leadership this country needs’. By which, the MP for Maidenhead means, ‘a big enough majority to ensure Parliament doesn’t scupper my Brexit deal’.
So, we have uncertainty on uncertainty; tidal wave following earthquake.
And yet, the calculation must have been that the PM should go to the country and get the country behind her so that she can stand tall in front of the EU negotiating team with the ‘mother of all mandates’ to steady her.
But of course it could all go horribly wrong. The Brexit referendum and the recent American election have shown us that nothing is as it was. The old certainties have been replaced by the wobbly jelly of voter volatility.
As I write this, Jeremy Corbyn is still leading the Labour Party. Of course he will step down if Labour is crushed, as predicted, on June 8. But might he be forced out before we even get to the hustings?
And what of the Lib Dems? Will they campaign that a vote for them means a vote to stay in Europe. Will that persuade some Remainers, or have we tired so much of all this politicking that we’ll all simply stay at home ...
David Murray Publisher
Home-buying habits revealed - from mortgages to garages
The average homeowner in the South East bought their first home aged 27, will live in eight different properties and will spend £27,801 on redecorating during their lifetime, according to new research. They will typically move out of their parent’s home at 21-years-old and reside in two rental properties before getting on the property ladder for the first time.
A typical homeowner in the region will end up living approximately 80 miles away from their childhood home, and will live in only three cities their entire life.
The average mortgage will take 20 years and eight months to pay off – one month below the UK average. This will cost a total of £153,827, which is nearly £19,000 above the typical national spend.
While a total of £17,990 will be spent on hiring removal vans, paying the legal fees and paying the stamp duty. This is over £3,850 above the UK average.
The research of 2,000 UK homeowners was commissioned by Origin, manufacturer of bespoke aluminium bi-folding doors, residential doors, windows and blinds.
It looked at the different stages of property buying for the average British homeowner and how property aspirations change over time.
Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin, said: “With the cost of moving so high, we have seen that families now choose to improve their current homes, rather than move.
Many years ago, a home would be for life, but that changed and people started moving as their needs changed – whether it be as a result of new job or starting a family.
“However today, we are seeing a resurgence of people choosing to renovate and improve their current property so it fits with their needs without incurring moving costs.”
Typically, it takes four months and three weeks to get settled in to a new home – while over half of adults described moving home as the most stressful thing they’ve ever done.
On average, respondents will contribute towards two separate mortgages over their lifetime, and will typically look to downsize age 56.
The average UK property is estimated to be worth £249,127 on average among those polled – while the typical mortgage is £542.41 per month.
Of those who have ever had a mortgage, 39% have paid it off, with the largest proportion of them – 27% – aged 55 and over.
Of those surveyed, more people – 29% – live in properties built before the 1950s than from any other period.
The average UK home has three bedrooms, while eight in 10 adults own a home with off-road parking and over half own a house with a garage.
Coffee shops as preferred workplaces
Research by Direct Line for Business reveals coffee shops are full of BEANS, Business Entrepreneurs and New Start-ups, as over a quarter (27%) of small business owners work from coffee shops in favour of their usual office space. When asked why they prefer to work outside of the home or office, flexibility, work-life balance, and increased productivity were cited as the most popular reasons. The appeal of free WiFi, electricity, warmth and a sociable environment is luring many small business owners, to swap their lonely offices and home workspaces for coffee and conversation.
Many entrepreneurs don’t have their own premises so take advantage of space and free connectivity elsewhere. Small business owners and operators also work from the comfort of restaurants (14%) and bars (11%) and fresh air lovers are even working outside in parks (8%).
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businessmag.co.uk
The research also shows that SME owners and operators have to manage their businesses on the go, with 19% working while waiting for flights at airports and 18% working while on public transport.
According to the research, over a third of small business owners (35%) believe the greatest benefit of remote working is the flexibility of being able to operate from multiple locations, such as working on the way to and from meetings. Other advantages include a better work life balance (32%), greater productivity (17%) and reduced operational and transport costs (16%).
When it came to the barriers of remote working, limited WiFi access came out on top, affecting 35% of small business owners on the move. This was followed by greater distractions, struggling to find a power source and missing interaction with office colleagues.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – MAY/JUNE 2017
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