Chancellor’s lucky tax escape

Gordon Brown has had a lucky escape. Today’s ruling by EU judges against a free-for-all in alcohol and tobacco sales across Europe goes against the tide of creeping Europeanisation.

It means, at least for the time being, that the Chancellor can continue the UK tradition of imposing high taxes on cigarettes and booze - and reaping about £16,000 million annually.

The Euro-judges ruled that internet and mail-order customers buying tobacco and alcohol from anywhere in Europe cannot enjoy the same low excise rates as those who actually travel to that country to buy the goods, often on so-called booze cruises.

So the scene is no longer set for a massive expansion of cross-border shopping. Fears that cheap cigarettes and alcohol could wipe out thousands of corner shops in Britain have eased.

Health officials can relax. Two of the most harmful substances known to man will remain at their relatively high price throughout the UK.

But for how long?

Mr Brown and others in Whitehall may pretend that the drive for low-tax sales across the continent, as recommended by an EU Advocate-General, is some devious plan by unfair foreigners.

It is no such thing. It is the inevitable consequence of ever deeper immersion in the EU, a policy eagerly pursued by successive British governments.

From Edward Heath onwards, pro-Europe politicians have assured us that Britain would not lose sovereignty.

And yet today Britain came perilously close to being stripped of its historical right to impose and collect the taxes it sees fit.

If it can happen to tobacco duty it can happen to income tax. We may lament the loss of cheap booze and fags. But the real price of such items is the steady transformation of the United Kingdom from an independent nation into a mere region of the EU.

Today, the process has suffered a setback. But those who dream of a United States of Europe will not give up easily. They will be back. The struggle goes on.

Age no barrier to Tiswas mayhem

Tiswas is back. A 90-minute special will bring together the gang who made the show such a hit with youngsters 30 years ago: Chris Tarrant, Sally James, Lenny Henry and Bob Carolgees, complete with Spit the Dog.

Some may find it odd that a bunch of people almost old enough for bus passes should be cracking silly jokes and dunking guests in the gunge tank. But this, as Jasper Carrott famously remarked, is the first generation never to grow old.

Thought for today: You’re only as old as the custard flan you fling.