Weak, Weak, Weak

So the government is appeasing pie-eaters today. And caravan owners. In one sense this is unsurprising since increasing taxes on items perceived to be enjoyed chiefly by the working-class is rarely a popular move and, in terms of presentation, especially awkward for a government most of whose ministers are from wealthy backgrounds. Nevertheless, this u-turn is probably a mistake. 

It is another reminder that this government can be bullied. We saw that when perfectly sensible plans to sell state-owned trees were abandoned and we see it again now. Like pies and caravans, the proposed forestry sell-off was a relatively trivial matter rebuffed by, in that instance, a largely urban, largely middle-class alliance of pseudo-green campaigners. The government had a reasonable idea and chose not to defend it. 

On this occasion, ministers made a complete hash of defending proposals to tax hot takeaway pies in the same way fish suppers are taxed.