The case of the Crooked House, a visibly wonky pub situated in the English Midlands, has been dominating the news cycle in the UK – an example of the summer’s silly season tendencies.
It also has the makings of a salutary tale of how dysfunctional the UK has become as a state at the everyday level. It is a trend that catalysed with 2016’s Brexit vote and crystallised during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
The Crooked House somehow stood for centuries, but after a recent change of ownership burnt down in a fire.
This common man’s Leaning Tower of Pisa was then quickly demolished by the owners, and the local English midland museum says it can’t now be restored to its essential features.
Newspaper exposes have said that the owners have other property developments where planners have cast doubt that applications to destroy and rebuild venerable establishments – following redevelopment that would allow new dwellings to be built – would ultimately be fulfilled.
There is often a failure of the UK authorities to follow through on enforcement of undertakings. So it would not be surprising if time elapses, the caravan moves on and this blitz of national attention comes to naught.
Across a gamut of the UK business scene, there is official inertia bordering on neglect. More openly than ever before, there is acceptance that something is wrong in particular ways but also a candid refusal to address the obvious problems. Faced with this kind of void, there is a spreading tendency to fall into cynicism.
Across a gamut of the UK business scene there is official inertia bordering on neglect
Examples are myriad. In recent days, the country’s financial regulator has moved to investigate banks after months of growing pressure over “debanking” of individuals by the sector.
Nigel Farage, the campaigner who delivered Brexit, gained a new lease on public life by being one of those expelled by his bank after failing a test he did not know was facing him.
The manifest inequity of the banks stems from a wrong-headed approach to policing their own customers for issues such as money-laundering or other violations.
Ultimately, the financial regulator should have tracked how the banks were setting these standards and intervened to set down principles that were not anti-client. The fact that it is now moving to look at the complaints is not encouraging. What it should be doing is set out how the banks should treat their customers fairly and properly in line with the changing laws. Instead, the regulators remain happy to be captured by the industry and come under the lobbyists’ thumb.
The UK police are in the same desperate situation.
Last week, officers had intelligence of an organised flash mob-style raid on London’s Oxford Street shops. Just eight policemen were on duty on one of the world’s premier shopping strips when the maelstrom struck. The following night when the videos of the previous day were viral around the world, scores of policemen were sent to the area to prove that they were up to the task. Except this amounted merely to closing the stable door when the horse had already bolted.
Then again this is a force that still hasn’t addressed how one of its elite officers killed a woman to satisfy his openly exhibited demons. The commissioner is still seeking power to dismiss individual “wrong-uns”.
Meanwhile over in Belfast, no one has resigned after a list bearing the names of its police service personnel was published online, amounting to a data breach. This in a place where every officer is advised to check under their vehicles for car bombs before clicking the key fob every morning, given Northern Ireland’s violent past.
The UK’s Home Office is tied in so many knots over its migration crackdown that it is hard to know which instance provides the greatest indictment.
After weeks of trying to get people who have arrived in the UK on boats to be housed on an offshore barge, the 24-hour news broadcast last weekend showed them lining up to be taken off because bacteria was discovered onboard. A news ticker reported the deaths of six people on Saturday in an overturned dinghy trying to make the same journey. The government is reportedly reviving a proposal to push back these small boats with jet skis.
The screens and newspaper front pages are exposing the lack of competence at the top. The machinery of government has ceased to deliver seamless and sensible outcomes. Its impact is pervading all walks of life.
One of the great myths that powered Brexit was the newspaper line that the UK was dealt with unfairly in the EU because it supposedly implemented all the regulations coming out of Brussels – while other countries were claimed to be mixing the laws they took from the centre. So, as the claim went, the UK was bearing an overly heavy burden handed down by the eurocrats.
Since Brexit, however, the country has not turned to a lighter touch nor has it discovered any talent for addressing its own individual problems.
There is a slow dawning that the country is not run well nor smartly administered. While I mention that this accounts for the spread of cynicism, that is not the whole story.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is so deep in a hole in the polls that the next election must seem like an oncoming train crash. The polls are telling him the scale of change people want to see, led from the top. If they can’t get it with him, then the other side will win the next general election.
The only real card available to him is show competence at a dramatic scale in the next 12 or so months.
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Honeymoonish
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
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Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Naga
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE's final round of matches
- Sep 1, 2016 Beat Japan 2-1 (away)
- Sep 6, 2016 Lost to Australia 1-0 (home)
- Oct 6, 2016 Beat Thailand 3-1 (home)
- Oct 11, 2016 Lost to Saudi Arabia 3-0 (away)
- Nov 15, 2016 Beat Iraq 2-0 (home)
- Mar 23, 2017 Lost to Japan 2-0 (home)
- Mar 28, 2017 Lost to Australia 2-0 (away)
- June 13, 2017 Drew 1-1 with Thailand (away)
- Aug 29, 2017 v Saudi Arabia (home)
- Sep 5, 2017 v Iraq (away)
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
