Out in Latvia at the moment (Stroller would do his nut at the number of Latvian flags flying) and have also spent a couple of days in Lithuania The concern over the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine is palpable, and there are Ukrainian flags everywhere, including a big display in front of the Russian embassy. Fascinating tour of the former KGB HQ in Riga today, and a very timely reminder of the paranoia all totalitarian regimes display. All the more interesting given the large % of the population that are ethnically Russian
The backlash from their own party backbenchers wasn't out ot of principle, it was out of fear of losing their own jobs, most of which will go anyway. ****ers.
Go to Riga market if you haven’t been already. It’s huge, but a proper locals market. In the central hall, between the meat market and the fish hall, is a mix of stalls, little restaurants and at one end a beer shop - straight from the barrels. It’s good stuff and if you buy in sufficient quantity (about 2 litres I think) it worked out at less than £1 a pint summer last year.
Went yesterday, just before going up to the Riga observation deck. Fascinating repurposing of old structures - former airship hangers. Didn't have any beer though
Anything else left to tax Reeves to announce 'milkshake tax' in bid to fill £20bn budget black hole It comes after Ms Reeves U-turned on her plan to hike income tax 17 Nov 2025, 05:59 | Updated: 18h ago Share Milkshakes are set to be taxed in the upcoming budget. Picture: Alamy By Henry Moore Rachel Reeves is set to announce a so-called “milkshake tax” in a bid to fill her £20billion budget black hole. Listen to this article After reversing her decision to raise income tax, the Chancellor is set to end the exemptions that milk-based beverages benefit from. ADVERTISING Currently, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy affects a range of sweet drinks, including Coke and Pepsi. It sees producers pay 18p per litre on sweet drinks if they contain 5g of sugar or more per 100ml. Read more: The invisible Budget tax grab Rachel Reeves hopes you won’t notice Read more: Reeves set to hit thousands of homes with new levy after massive U-turn on income tax Chancellor Rachel Reeves arrives at Downing Street. Picture: Getty Until now, dairy exemptions had applied to the levy - but they now face the axe as Ms Reeves desperately attempts to fill the country’s economic black hole. According to reports, the changes will take effect from April 2027 and could net the Treasury up to £100m. The Treasury is yet to comment on the reported tax hike. Tory Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride hit out at the move, saying: “If these reports are true, Labour’s new milkshake tax moves the goalposts yet again for an industry that’s already cut sugar and made changes responsibly. “It will see businesses that played by the rules punished, with products suddenly dragged into the tax net – all to save Rachel Reeves’s skin.” It comes after Ms Reeves U-turned on her plan to hike income tax in a bid to fill the budget black hole. Reeves had appeared to all but confirm she would be raising income tax last week, breaking from her party's 2024 election manifesto pledge. The Chancellor had told the public in a Downing Street press conference last week that "everyone has to play their part" in fixing Britain's broken finances. The speech was widely interpreted as confirmation that the Treasury would raise the basic rate of income tax by 2 per cent. But last week, the OBR told the Chancellor the hole in the nation’s finances is closer to £20billion, rather than the previously feared £30billion. This meant her income tax increase could be shelved and replaced with a so-called “smorgasbord” approach. Heat pump discount to be extended to air-conditioning devices in UK-first scheme 2h ago please log in to view this image NHS facing 'breaking point' amid troubling rise in emergency lung admissions 3h ago please log in to view this image Around one in three people have turned to AI for mental health help 3h ago please log in to view this image Exclusive Home Secretary 'confident' radical migration reforms will pass amid fears of welfare-style rebellion 4h ago please log in to view this image Homes near train stations to get planning permission by default - even on green belt land 5h ago please log in to view this image Council tax hike on luxury homes will fund cuts for lower bands, think tank says 9h ago please log in to view this image 'Zero calories and big knickers': Renee Zellweger says Bridget Jones has been a 'blessing' as statue unveiled 10h ago please log in to view this image More Topics Homes near train stations to get planning permission by default - even on green belt land 5h ago please log in to view this image Council tax hike on luxury homes will fund cuts for lower bands, think tank says 9h ago please log in to view this image 'Ready in five days': Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales declared at 'full capability' as it takes part in Nato exercise 11h ago please log in to view this image BBC boss Samir Shah tells staff Donald Trump has "no basis" to sue over Panorama speech edit 14h ago please log in to view this image UK roads to be made narrower in bid to stop cars overtaking cyclists 16h ago please log in to view this image Councils to lose ability to block large housing developments 17h ago please log in to view this image Couple detained for complaining about child's school awarded £20,000 from police after 'unlawful arrest' 17h ago please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Follow us: Back to top About & Help Contact us Help How to listen The News Agents Get The LBC App Download for iOS Download for Android Legal & Info Terms & conditions Privacy policy Cookies Company details Public file Business & Careers Advertise Global careers © Global 2025 | 30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA Copyright Global 2025. 30 Leicester Square, London. W C 2 H 7 L A. Privacy Manager
About time the government introduced an increased tax on fast food joints, the likes of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, independent chicken shops & kebab shops. There are just too many on most local high streets around London. Some of them are fronts for illegal trading, money laundering and probably drugs. Plus, they are making our kids unnecessarily fat which will impact the health services in 20+ years. Act now or suffer the consequences.
Sounds a bit nanny state. They’ve tried to curtail unhealthy food/drink in supermarkets with tax, removing multibuys, not allowing those foods to be sold from certain parts of the store and it’s had a negligible effect on consumption. If kids want to eat ****e they’ll eat ****e. If parents want to buy them ****e they will. Adding a bit more cost to a kebab isn’t going to have people flocking to the salad aisle. If they’re operating illegally that’s another issue.
