Normal is over-rated

Any changes to council tax bands won't fix local authority finance. The real problem is that the government gives local authorities statutory duties, for example in social care or educational special needs, and then doesn't provide adequate statutory sources of funding.

Oh, I can absolutely believe it.

I've mentioned this before, and it is just my personal opinion: I'd abolish inheritance tax on estates, and instead make recipients pay income tax at their marginal rate on bequests they received.

This is a terrible position: "I have no problem with the carnage, I just don't think people should be allowed to know about it"

I haven't listened to the Melanie Philips speech as my masochism threshold is quite low. But my golden rule about her, on any subject at all, is if you adopt a position diametrically opposed to hers you won't go far wrong.

As a long-time Green Party member (and parliamentary candidate) I find these polls difficult to comprehend. A reform government is a horrific prospect, but 77 Green Party MPs? It's almost inconceivable!

A lot of religious organisations practice some degree of authoritarianism. "Be kind to the poor" is not at the top of every Christian leader's list of what Christianity means, and the same is true in other religions too.

No-one, sadly. And no-one is even trying to stop Israel's constant violations of the Gaza ceasefire.

Well, there are a lot of people who could (by refusing to sell/supply weapons, ammunition, technology etc to Israel; immediately pulling the plug, including negating any licences granted for same, looking at you, UK, US etc etc) but I'm betting no one will.

I don’t have an answer to your very astute question Ash. Ceasefire is a completely meaningless term when applied to Israel. Even if one accepts the argument that they were targeting a known terrorist, they have destroyed the homes and lives of entirely innocent civilians to do so.

I'd abolish inheritance tax on estates, and instead make recipients pay income tax at their marginal rate on bequests they received.

I'd really like to know why Boris Johnson gave Evgeny Lebedev a peerage (which means Lebedev has a personal vote on all UK legislation for life). I'm sure others share my curiosity.