Andy Burnham's new cabinet - who's in, who's out.

If the minimum wage pays hundreds a week more than benefits, why are so few not rushing into work?

It’s a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma.

Numerous reasons, the main one being that there are very few job vacancies.

There’s around 700k job vacancies at the moment. Not all minimum wage I grant you. But surely some of the 10 million adults of working age who are economically inactive will have experience to place them higher up the job ladder?

Economically inactive doesn’t equate to receiving benefits. There are 1.6 million people claiming out of work benefits.

1.6 million available to work. Goodness we could have cleaner streets than Switzerland !

Yes, but work is cruel punishment, don’t you know?

Business rates definitely need looking at but I’m not sure this is the rate way - how do you decide who is worthy of lower rates and who isn’t? It needs a full review and looking at warehouses/data centres etc

I'm really disappointed with the peerage for the Scottish Labour leader - that’s cronyism at its finest

The devil is in the detail, Emma Simpson, BBC:

.. the idea this support is going to be paid for by reviewing tax reliefs currently given to businesses “that don’t make a positive contribution to local communities” specifically highlighting vape shops.

“I’m not sure getting vape shops to pay for it will fill the gap” one seasoned rating expert told me.

well quite. Hopefully they will do a full review of business rates and have conversations with those who see the practical application

simplification would be wonderful but at the moment everything seems to be more complex!

It’s a clever move by AB. I’m not sure what the downsides will be but the optics and upside is good.

Back to the appointments: Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer

At last, someone who is truly principled:

"I've always said I would serve where I am asked. In normal circumstances, that is exactly what I would do, but the argument I resigned over has not yet been settled."

Fair point. Not sure it will fill the gap.

Well the downside will be a loss in business rate take. The more complex the system gets the easier it is to find loopholes.

I would love to see the back of all the vape shops but I suspect it would just change how and where they are sold

so far he’s doing as expected

Maybe vapes with the dry roasted peanuts and pint of lager …

Well that’s what will inevitably happen

plus what is a live music venue - are you going to end up with the vape shops having a performance area!

ultimately good taxes need to be well drafted and in recent years there have been some knee jerk changes that then haven’t achieved what was intended

But what about Healy?

Did he resign because of his principles, which is how it looked like, does he genuinely believe now the issue can be fixed, by him?

And why does Al Carns think it has not been settled?

Thus is really interesting!

And the controversial appointment: Anas Sarwar becoming a Lord so he can be Minister of State for Trade. The Scottish Conservatives have said:

"Given he was one of the loudest voices calling for Keir Starmer to go, people will inevitably ask whether he always had one eye on a role at Westminster.

It adds the government will also "crack down" on businesses selling through online marketplaces which "do not comply with their tax obligations".

But if this is extended to the likes of Amazon, Shein, TEMU and the like, not only will it bring more tax but will give a much more even playing field for UK businesses and our high street.

In turn, more shops on the high street, less empty shops, less chance for vape/barber/nails as shops are occupied and valued - and more jobs.

Our rush for cheap tat is killing our own high streets, killing communities. It isn’t the same in Europe (or certainly the countries I have visited) where high streets thrive, providing good quality products and social engagement, as well as jobs.

the whole ‘do not comply with their tax obligations’ is woolly and basically means they’re not sure what to do at the moment

they need to come up with a way to tax online businesses a different way to level the playing field. Higher business rates on warehouses and data centres would be a start

and as for the high streets - you need to change people’s attitudes to them as they wouldn’t be failing if people used them

my teen dd was really excited when a bricks and mortar shop of a US brand opened in London but came home really disappointed because they had very few sizes and not much variety.

and on the other end of the age range, my mum went to John Lewis for something and when she asked if they had any in stock was told it would be better for her to order online

round my way every other shop is either a bakery or a coffee shop with a few charity shops thrown in!

Looking at more of the detail this is a bit of a nothing move. So far it’s been a lot of tinkering. They should probably try and focus on the bigger picture and not be so desperate to rush things out.