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LAST CHANCE TO
ENTER OUR READERS COMPETITION:-
"Britain's Favourite Circus goes off-the-scale wild in its latest
creation!"
LAST
week we told you all about the
fantastic news that Zippo's Cirque Berserk will be in Southport over
Thursday, 30 January to Saturday, 1 February 2013, with a show that
mixes contemporary "cirque" style skills with off the
scale thrilling stunt action!
The Cirque
Berserk show has the
world's most dangerous circus act, the legendary Globe of Death,
with 3 motorcyclists speeding around inside a steel cage at over
60mph, seen for the 1st time live on stage in the UK... So it is no
wonder why it has had not 1, but 3 sell out seasons in London's Hyde
Park Winter Wonderland.
The show also will consist of over
30 jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and death
defying stunt men, joined by Guinness World Record holding strong
man Hercules and award winning clown Tweedy.
The show also will consist of over 30 jugglers, acrobats,
aerialists, dancers, musicians and death defying stunt men, joined
by Guinness World Record holding strong man Hercules and award
winning clown Tweedy.
Cirque Berserk will be on stage at the Southport Theatre for just 3
days from, Thursday, 30 January 2013 to Saturday, 1 February 2013.
The shows are on:- Thursday, 7.30pm, Friday, 5pm and 7.45pm,
Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Ticket prices are:- £24.00, £21.00 and
£18.00 and general concessions get:- £5 off. Booking is open now
at:- 0844 871 7646 (bkg fee) or online at:-
atgtickets.com/southport.
But YOU could see the show
FREE and win a unique prize; just enter our
READER COMPETITION!
The winner can choose either:-
A) Beautiful model Musical Box Big Top; a valuable collectors' item
to cherish (retail value £160) + 4 tickets for Cirque Berserk
or
B) An unique photo opportunity for yourself and a friend to stand
inside the motorcycle Globe of Death before a performance and have
your picture taken with the dare devil riders of the Lucius Team on
their stationary machines. Plus 4 tickets for Cirque Berserk.
Just answer this simple question:- "Who are the dare devil
riders inside the motorcycle Globe of Death at Cirque Berserk? "
Send your answer to:-
news24@southportreporter.com to arrive by the closing
date of 12 noon on Thursday, 9 July 2014.
Don't forget to include your full name, full address and a phone
number!
ZIPPO'S CIRCUS WILL NOTIFY WINNERS AND WILL ARRANGE THEIR PRIZE
SEATS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. THE ORGANISERS' DECISION (ZIPPO'S
CIRCUS) IS FINAL. SOUTHPORT REPORTER TERMS AND CONDITIONS ALSO APPLY
DATA PROTECTION NOTE:- IT IS A CONDITION OF ENTRY THAT COMPETITORS
PERMIT THE CIRCUS TO HOLD THEIR CONTACT DETAILS; THOSE DETAILS WILL
NOT BE PASSED TO ANY THIRD PARTY, BUT ZIPPO'S CIRCUS MAY SEND
ENTRANTS PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.
A North West New
Year's Resolution for more jobs and better wages
WAGES and Jobs will remain
the 2 big barriers to recovery in the North West on 2014, say the
TUC's Regional Secretary Lynn Collins. Having took up post a
year ago, Lynn has seen small signs of improvement in the economy
and a welcome growth in jobs, but says more needs to be done in the
new year to get us back on track including tackling the living
standards crisis, in the region, wages have failed to rise in line
with inflation for 5 years now and any increased spending that has
happened has come from people eating into family savings.
Lynn Collins says:- "The statistics show that Britain's
economic recovery is real but that is not how it feels here in the
North West. This is because the government has failed to deliver a
growth strategy based on rebalancing the economy through exports and
investment. Instead growth is coming from rising house prices and
people running down their savings. And while jobs growth is welcome,
too many jobs are insecure and combine the three lows: low skill,
low productivity and low pay."
Having reflected on what has gone on so far, Lynn highlights the
campaign for workers to receive a "Living Wage" and
the need to outlaw the use of 0 hours contracts as 2 key campaigns
for 2014. Lynn says:- "We have heard a lot about food banks
and their growth in our region, and whilst there is an assumption
they exist for those on benefits, we know that over the last year
the biggest rise in food bank usage is by those in work, and facing
low wages and no guaranteed hours."
Lynn says that this is down to employers choosing to pay low wages,
despite the call for them to share rising profits. This also comes
on the back of this announcement that the director general of the
CBI, John Cridland, has called on businesses to share their wealth.
"It's a disgrace that workers have to turn to charities to put
right the damage caused to working families by low wages. Paying a
decent wage to all workers would reduce not only food bank
dependency, but the benefits bill which currently tops up household
income for those in low paid work. Employers should take
responsibility and pay decent wages and this will be a big area of
campaigning over the next 12 months."
Lynn also welcomed recent announcements about jobs growth in the
region, including the increase in apprentice opportunities announced
today by British Aerospace. "Getting our young people in to
decent work will be the biggest long term boost to the North West
Economy. Youth unemployment remains a huge problem in the region,
and it's vital we don't leave this generation of young people
behind. We want to work with employers to ensure we create real
opportunities young people to work and learn, and to create real
jobs for them to go to. Without tackling the dual problems of wages
and jobs, we won't see the benefit of any recovery for many years to
come. This is why 2014 will be a crucial year. It will be dominated
by a single political question – whose growth? That reflects the big
divide that is opening up about what future Britain should have. Do
we want to go back to a business as usual version of the pre-crash
economy, based on housing bubbles, an over mighty finance sector and
increasing inequality as a growing proportion of the workforce fail
to share in prosperity? Or do we want to build a new, genuinely
rebalanced economy that through investment, growth and active
government aims for a high skill, high pay, and high productivity
economy that shares out prosperity to all? I know which side trade
unions are on here in the North West."
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Nearly 700 tax
criminals convicted in 2013
ALMOST 700 tax fraudsters
and benefit cheats were convicted this year, HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) has been announced to the press at the start of 2014.
Between January and the end of November, HMRC investigations led to
690 successful convictions; up from 477 in 2012, and the highest
since the 2010 Spending Review. These convictions led to sentences
totalling 355 years in prison. The investigations covered
everything from complex VAT, income tax and benefit frauds to
smuggling cases. HMRC is also publicising the top 5 tax cheat
prosecutions of 2013, who between them share a combined jail
sentence of over 75 years, on its Flickr
gallery.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said:- "The
Government is determined to make sure people pay the tax they owe
and HMRC will come down hard on those who try to cheat the system.
Honest taxpayers will be pleased that these fraudsters are now
paying for their crimes. We have invested nearly £1 billon in HMRC
to tackle those who fail to play by the rules, and these figures
clearly demonstrate that investment is paying off."
Donald Toon, Director for Criminal Investigations at HMRC, said:-
"These convictions send a clear message that tax fraud will not
be ignored and tax fraudsters should be very concerned. We are well
on track to achieving our spending review commitment to increase the
annual number of prosecutions to over 1,000 by 2014/15. The vast
majority of people are honest with their tax affairs, but if anyone
knows of somebody evading their taxes they should call HMRC and tell
us."
Tell HMRC about customs or excise fraud, or tax evasion, at:-
hmrc.gov.uk.
Revenue reveals
'Top 10 oddest excuses' for late tax returns
WITH the 31 January 2014
tax return deadline just around the corner, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
has revealed the 'Top 10 oddest excuses' for sending in a late
return.
The following bizarre, exotic and flimsy excuses have all been used
by tardy taxpayers:-
1. My pet goldfish died (self-employed builder);
2. I had a run-in with a cow (Midlands farmer);
3. After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I couldn't
concentrate on anything else (London woman);
4. My wife won't give me my mail (self-employed trader);
5. My husband told me the deadline was 31 March, and I believed him
(Leicester hairdresser);
6. I've been far too busy touring the country with my one-man play
(Coventry writer);
7. My bad back means I can't go upstairs. That's where my tax return
is (a working taxi driver);
8. I've been cruising round the world in my yacht, and only picking
up post when I'm on dry land (South East man);
9. Our business doesn't really do anything (Kent financial services
firm); and
10. I've been too busy submitting my clients' tax returns (London
accountant).
All of these people and businesses received a £100 penalty from HMRC
for filing late. They appealed against the decision using these
excuses, but were unsuccessful.
HMRC's Director General of Personal Tax, Ruth Owen, said:-
"There will always be unforeseen events that mean a taxpayer could
not file their tax return on time. However, your pet goldfish
passing away isn't one of them. If you haven't yet sent your 2012/13
tax return to HMRC, you need to do it online and pay the tax you owe
by the end of January. With all the help and advice available,
there's no excuse not to."
To send an online tax return, you must be registered for HMRC Online
Services. This involves HMRC sending you an Activation Code in the
post, so allow a few days for this to arrive. To register for HMRC
Online Services go to:-
hmrc.gov.uk/online and follow
the on-screen instructions.
For general help and advice on completing a return, visit:-
hmrc.gov.uk/sa or call the Self
Assessment helpline on:- 0300 200 3310 (open 8.00am to 8.00pm,
Monday to Friday, and from 8.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays).
Did you know that:-
1. Around 10.9 million people are expected to fill out a Self
Assessment return for the 2012/13 tax year.
2. The penalties for late Self Assessment returns are:-
► An initial £100 fixed penalty, which
applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on
time;
► After 3 months, additional daily
penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900;
► After 6 months, a further penalty of 5
per cent of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater; after 12
months, another 5 per cent or £300 charge, whichever is greater.
3. There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5% of the
tax unpaid at:- 30 days; 6 months; and 12 months.
NEXT OF KIN
APPEAL - DAVID HARTLEY, SEFTON
SEFTON Coroner's Office are
appealing for the public's help in tracing the next of kin of David
Hartley, from Southport, who died on Sunday, 29 December 2013. Mr
Hartley died in his home on Pilkington Road and his death is not
being treated as suspicious. Mr Hartley was 81 years old and he is
believed to have connections to the Lancashire and Cumbria areas.
Mr Hartley's family, or anyone who
knows them, are asked to call Sefton Coroner's Office on:- 0151 777
3481.
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