slop academic produced nothing of note, failed upwards by promising to take food out of people's mouths year on year - and he gets rewarded handsomely for it

In 1696, the British government decided to tax sunlight. Under the Window Tax, households were charged according to the number of windows in their homes. To avoid paying, many people simply bricked up or boarded over their windows, choosing to live in darkness rather than hand money to the state for daylight. The tax was presented as a fair way of taxing wealth, since larger houses tended to have more windows. In practice, it proved crude and damaging. Tax inspectors were given the power to enter homes and count the windows, which was widely resented as an invasion of privacy. The consequences were severe. Poorer families, in particular, bricked up windows to reduce their liability, leaving homes darker, damper and poorly ventilated. This contributed to higher rates of disease, including tuberculosis and rickets. Architects began designing houses with fewer windows to minimise the tax, resulting in buildings that were less healthy and less pleasant to live in. Far from being an efficient revenue raiser, the Window Tax distorted behaviour, harmed public health and became increasingly unpopular over time. Yet it remained in place for 155 years until it was finally abolished in 1851. The Window Tax required invasive enforcement and created more resentment, hardship and economic distortion than revenue. It is a classic example of the unintended consequences of taxation.

Next tour of Spitalfields is Saturday May 9th. Join me for ramble through 2000 years of culture and history at the heart of old London followed by tea and cakes freshly baked to recipe of 1720 served in a 300 year old house overlooking Christ Church. shorturl.at/N8E1T

An award-winning Black bookshop is facing a “critical moment” to sell 1,000 books before the end of April so that Black authors ‘don’t lose a platform for their books.’ Afrori Books in Brighton has only four days left to reach its goal. thecommunityreporter.co.uk/p…

Name something that's tougher than Trump.

Always makes me chuckle hearing people moaning that Christmas is being banished so as not to offend Muslims. I am in Jakarta, capital of the largest Muslim country on earth, and you cannot move for Christmas decorations, in malls, offices, hotels. People should travel more.

@TiceRichard has just admitted the British economy was better when it was in the EU, if it wasn’t so sad it would be funny. #ExitBrexit ⚽️ Put up an XI Richard. We’re ready.

Peter Francis told Keith Edmondson that he would consider if he would return to work after not being given the role he wanted after the #spycops. Francis says he felt let down by Edmondson.

Peter Francis says that he filed reports on Wilson Silcott related activity because he had a constant brief on him. Reiterates he didn't need to be told more than once #spycops