Them and us fishes, image by Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Flatshares v Bond lairs
The rent on an average two-bed London flat could exceed £2,000 a month by 2020 at current rates of increase. That’s not much less than the combined gross salaries of two minimum-wage workers.
But while the housing crisis worsens for us, the super-rich live like Bond villains – literally. The secret lair of evil genius Blofeld – baddy in Daniel Craig’s latest outing Spectre – is up for sale. With stunning vistas and easy access to Marrakech, the Moroccan bolthole will set you back a mere £2.8 million.
£2,007
Projected average monthly rent for a two-bed flat in London by 2020
£2,773
Projected gross monthly pay for two full-time, minimum-wage workers in 2020
Baron v workers
Simon Wolfson, boss of retail chain Next, complained this month that paying staff a living wage would dent his profits. The Tory peer lashed out at poverty-stricken workers, declaring that £6.70 an hour is “enough to live on”.
Unless you’re Baron Wolfson of Aspley Guise, of course. Then you need 330 times that. The chief executive, son of Next’s former chair, trousered £4.6 million this year.
Cuts v handouts
The Institute of Directors surveyed its members and found 85% want Tory Chancellor George Osborne to keep on cutting. This is no surprise – the Tory nirvana of ‘budget surplus’ means reduced tax on their mind-blowing profits.
But what about the £93 billion in subsidies and tax breaks the state hands to big business every year? Wouldn’t that go some way to closing his £70 billion deficit? Apparently not – businesses are already threatening to ‘leave’ if Labour left winger Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister.
The Socialist says: reverse all cuts. Redirect corporate handout money to jobs and services. And if the bosses don’t want to stay, let them go – but nationalise their firms and assets under democratic workers’ control.
