
‘Fine, get rid of the non-doms, but what's the plan to generate wealth?'
I n my working life lately I feel rather like a cast member of a failing West End production, desperately trying to get bums on seats, sell the play to uninterested punters and generally try to inject a sense of enthusiasm or, dare I say it, 'theatre' into the proceedings.
I look at our white board (which lists the properties we have for sale, ranging from £2 million to £40 million) and know we've got some real corkers, sensibly priced too. We are coming to the end of the May and June 'season', historically the busiest and best time to sell as the international market is drawn to London. It's the time to be in the mix before summer holidays takes the wealthy and social away. But we've hardly had any viewings, and the conversations I'm having with clients are not feeling optimistic.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Car mechanic expert reveals most reliable used car in UK… it's 20 years old and cost just £500
A LEADING car mechanic has revealed one of the UK's most reliable cars. The 20-year-old vehicle has none of the usual, 'unnecessary bells and whistles' and costs just £500. 3 3 Paul Lucas, a car expert, has said that the iconic MK1 Ford Focus is one of the best cars that money can buy. According to him, it's both reliable and focuses on simplicity. The star is an owner of an MK1 vehicle himself and bought it for just £500. He's owned the car for over 15 years and has never looked back. He said: 'For me a 20-year-old 1.6 litre Mk1 Ford Focus is top for reliability. 'It was designed before all the unnecessary bells and whistles came in and even lets you start the car with a real key rather than press a button. 'I bought mine 15 years ago for £500 and have no regrets.' According to AutoExpress, the Focus has an "incredible agility" thanks to its innovative multi-link rear suspension. Although the engine isn't the most fearsome on the road, it's 113bhp 1.8-litre four cylinder units remain fresh for years. The car has a spacious interior, with 350 litres of boot space which is only 31 litres less than a brand-new Volkswagen Golf Mark 8. Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as CEO admits 'day to day' struggle for brand As the cost of a new vehicle soars, Brits are looking for alternative ways of getting on the roads for less. According to Wheeler Dealer superstar Mike Brewer, there is an easy trick which can help you bag a used car for less. The TV presenter says that motorists should look to part-exchange their vehicles to get some money off. Mike said: 'A dealer would be happy to do a much better deal with you on your part exchange, therefore giving you a much better deal on the car you're buying in the hope he can put your car in stock and sell it again.' Dealers will be eager to fill up their stocks and you'll get some money off of your purchase, making both parties happy. However, the star did issue a warning to drivers looking to exchange their car. He said: 'Make sure if you've got a good part exchange. 'If you've got a decent car, clean it, make sure it's really presentable and choose the right dealer to take it to and change up your car. 'That is very important.' Car sales have remained stable over the year, with the Ford Puma topping the sales charts. Over 21,900 models have been sold this year, with the Kia Sportage coming in second place with over 19,600 sales being made. In a close third, the Nissan Qashqai has sold over 17,000 models. 3


The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd chief gives major update on £2billion new stadium and reveals why ‘Wembley of the North' plan might NOT happen
MANCHESTER UNITED chief Omar Berrada has given the clearest indication yet that the club will only build a new stadium if it receives financial backing from the government. Earlier this year minority United owner and billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe unveiled ambitious new plans for a £2bn stadium which would hold 100,000 fans and be built next to the current Old Trafford. 6 6 Sir Jim said plans to regenerate the area around the stadium with 17,000 homes, shops, restaurants and hotels, would boost the UK economy by £7.3bn. But the plans could only go ahead if the surrounding area was developed using taxpayers' money. In a recent interview with Red Issue fanzine, Berada said: 'We still see the stadium as the catalyst for the wider regeneration project. "So we do need the government to commit to developing the area around the stadium for it to make sense. 'Without it it doesn't make sense for us to build the stadium as a standalone. "We believe that it could be a catalyst for one of the biggest, if not the biggest regeneration projects that this area of the country has ever seen. 'And it'll bring benefits for the wider community in terms of home, jobs, health, and all that, that can yield an enormous amount of positive impact. "Hopefully the government will support it and put the funds behind it.' Concept images of the ground have teased a huge wraparound scoreboard, along with a three-storey museum and canal-side restaurants as part of a vast fan village. If the plans do go ahead United will be able to continue playing at Old Trafford during the construction process, before demolishing the historic ground once they move into their new home. Man Utd reveal first pics of redeveloped 100,000-capacity Old Trafford in 'biggest regeneration scheme ever seen' During the announcement of the ambitious project, Ratcliffe said: "Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. "By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home." 6 6 6 6


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Protests erupt in Venice against Jeff Bezos wedding bonanza
Hundreds of people marched through Venice 's central streets on Saturday in protest of billionaire Jeff Bezos ' wedding to Lauren Sánchez. On Friday, the world's fourth-richest man and his bride tied the knot in a private ceremony with around 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio. The wedding has divided Venice, with activists accusing Bezos of exploiting the city while ordinary residents contend with overtourism and the constant threat of climate-induced flooding. Protesters from across Italy filled Venice's tiny streets with colourful banners reading 'Kisses Yes, Bezos No.'