A test of market forces, coffee consumption and capitalism is brewing in Burford. Multi-national, alleged-tax-dodgers Starbucks have just opened, homegrown chain Caffe Nero are arriving shortly, to be closely followed by local, green, gluten-free heroes, Lynwood. Room for all or survival of the fittest? I’ll keep you posted.
Making a difference?
The ’70s were for my coming-of-age time, as they were for Stuart Maconie, author of ‘The Nanny State Made Me’. It’s when I took my 0 and A Levels, went to uni and started my first job. My view of the decade will always be rose-tinted, I’ll remember the music, discos, student grants (wouldn’t have known what a tuition fee was) and monthly inflationary pay rises negotiated by unions of which I was not a member. The strikes, high taxes and IRA bombs were background noise to me and, yes, I was the first in my family to go to university and, yes, despite everything, felt more secure with a nanny state in charge than at any time since. I’d happily pay more tax to give my kids and grandkids the same.
