In the spot market

+The government—using new ‘freedoms allowed by Brexit’ (hurrah!) - has announced a list of people from overseas who are barred from activity in the UK. Mainly Russians of course, but also a few Saudis implicated in the Khashoggi murder and so on. Strange how Putin has been left off the list, since we’re always told he authorises every evil deed his agents engage in. And Mohammed Bin Salman, widely believed to have ordered Khashoggi’s murder hasn’t featured either. Well, you can only go so far, can’t you? Given we’re a country that gave Pinochet refuge, we shouldn’t expect too much. But I am worried that these displays of our civilised purity will have a devastating effect on the economy—of Knightsbridge that is. After decades—under both Labour and Conservative governments—of courting the rich and generating a feeding frenzy tax haven in the City, I am cynical enough to wonder whether those targeted by these proscriptions are likely to have very much wealth at all in the UK, or indeed whether they somehow neglected (through their intermediaries) to have ever contributed a healthy sum to the Conservative Party.

+The government’s use of £1.6 billion of taxpayers’ money to support the arts and cultural sector is undoubtedly welcome but one is bound to ask how much of it will find its way e.g. into Andrew Lloyd Webber’s bank balance or to ‘rescue’ Covent Garden. The ‘talent’ that has grown rich during the good times has pleaded for assistance. But their combined billions seem to have escaped notice during their ‘luvvie’ appeals for support for those who are facing a prolonged period of resting. Perhaps we could ask Damian Hirst to use some of his estimated £315 million fortune to get unemployed artists painting more spots. In the nature of these things, they would all be classed as originals and he could double his money.