As we approached the hottest day in history ever, our water, and that of several thousand others in half a dozen local postcodes, was cut off for about 18 hours. Who knew that one, giant, Victorian water main running through a field in Witney supplies a big chunk of this part of the Cotswolds and that when it cracks, it brings everything to a halt. You’d suppose that Thames Water might know this. Dig a little, and you’ll find that our friendly, local water utility is now owned by ‘a mix of private equity and sovereign wealth funds’. Not the sovereign wealth of our own, dear Queen, I’m sure, and not a ‘mix’ likely to care much about the welfare of a pipe in Witney. Or much else besides making a profit and getting out on top, dry and without a trace of sewerage.
“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”
So it looks as though Cash ISAs are safe for the moment (FTM – is that a thing?) Rachel has apparently ‘bowed to pressure’ from the banks and building societies and decided not to reduce the allowance to £4,000 for cash and to keep the £20,000 parity with Stocks and Shares ISAs. Bowed also to common sense, I’d say.
