Friday 10 October: Scrapping stamp duty will stimulate Britain’s flagging economy

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its commenting facility (now reinstated, but we prefer ours),
Intelligent, polite, good-humoured debate is welcome, whether on or off topic. Differing opinions are encouraged, but rudeness or personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Posts which – in the opinion of the moderators – make this a less than cordial environment, are likely to be removed, without prior warning.  Persistent offenders will be banned.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here.

60 thoughts on “Friday 10 October: Scrapping stamp duty will stimulate Britain’s flagging economy”

  2. Morning, all Y'all.
    Looking like a nice day!
    SWMBOs little car won't start, even after being on charge overnight. Battery is fcuked. Bugger. Need a new one.

    2. Pouring with rain here in Valencia. 17 degrees. The beach full of water. Seaside in the rain is depressing. May continue tomorrow. Looks more hopeful next week

  6. Apropos the Gaza peace.

    I wonder if it occurs to Starmer, Macron, Carney et al that their recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state has almost guaranteed future conflict? A Hamas Palestinian state requires the destruction of Israel.

    My money is on aid being converted into arms while Gaza is rebuilt and that it will all kick off again.
    Probably sooner rather than later, i.e. before new Gaza is complete.

  8. Hard work this morning: Good programme on Radio 4 earlier with Adrian Chiles and Susie Dent. Makes a change from the cr*p they churn out by the bucket-load. Just noticed it's a repeat. Can't find Saturday's edition.
    Wordle 1,575 5/6

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  9. Wordle No. 1,575 3/6

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    Wordle 11 Oct 2025

    A pile for Birdie Three?

    1. Par us good
      Wordle 1,575 4/6

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    1. I don't think so, Ndovu, left over from yesterday. Geoff may pick up again at some point, when he feels he wants to.

    3. Good morning Jules,
      Contacting here because I suppose no-one is paying attention. I dipped into the other site and I see that Richard Jones is posting.
      Assuming this is not from heaven, what is the explanation?
      Thanks
      Remi

      1. Jones family. Lots of them. Using his email connection. Their views are remarkably similar to his – the sons in particular have a very similar syntax. He had four sons with Ioulia and then they adopted four daughters from Slovenia. There are younger generations too.
        Come back and join us again there.
        You've probably noticed Nottl is no more – Geoff had IT problems and called it a day. We've moved over to Free Speech Backlash. You'll be welcome there too.
        J

        1. Thanks Jules.
          I must admit that I had some doubts that he had died. Someone else in the group did mention at that time that the death of two centenarians (one British and very well connected) on the same day in the islands would not be too hard to trace. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not think any cropped up.
          My conjecture was that he was two people – one very old who had been OSS during the war and another younger but close to the old guy – maybe both MI6 or something similar.

          His incomprehensible (to me) positions on the Ukraine war also smacked of continuing a line of deceit for king and country so I am glad I ducked out of the group before that became clear. My respect for him would have meant I would not have been comfortable being so blunt as I was with Robin and TR – and as I am with people like Telemachus and Guessedworker in his various incarnations (most lately Woodcote, account now deleted).
          So my guess, without any proof whatsoever, is that he has carried on – minus the older guy. Good. I shall dip into the site occasionally to see what he has to say. I would be particularly curious to see how he views the Ukraine denouement.
          As for coming back, that is very kind of you. But I view Robin's and TR's type of obtuseness with respect to CoViD and the vaccines at the national level as largely responsible for the deaths and ruin of thousands and I have trouble being civil to such people. You are clearly much kinder than me.
          I also noted that they both think or thought I was a bit mad. Maybe with good cause. The group is better off without me.

          1. We’re all a bit mad sometimes Remi.
            As for Richard – we had a long correspondence by email which ended on the day he died. His daughter Florina told us of the problems they had arranging the memorial celebrations and I had no reason to doubt her words.
            He had Swiss nationality, although Welsh ancestry and Argentinian connections.

          5. I think all opinions should be welcome though in such a small group it can be a bit of an echo chamber. The Jones family have plenty to say on European matters and are all very political. I’m glad they decided to contribute. His sons must all be over 80 and the girls a bit younger though there are younger generations.

        2. Thanks Jules.
          I must admit that I had some doubts that he had died. Someone else in the group did mention at that time that the death of two centenarians (one British and very well connected) on the same day in the islands would not be too hard to trace. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not think any cropped up.
          My conjecture was that he was two people – one very old who had been OSS during the war and another younger but close to the old guy – maybe both MI6 or something similar.

          His incomprehensible (to me) positions on the Ukraine war also smacked of continuing a line of deceit for king and country so I am glad I ducked out of the group before that became clear. My respect for him would have meant I would not have been comfortable being so blunt as I was with Robin and TR.
          So my guess, without any proof whatsoever, is that he has carried on – minus the older guy. Good. I shall dip into the site occasionally to see what he has to say. I would be particularly curious to see how he views the Ukraine denouement.
          As for coming back, that is very kind of you. But I view Robin's and TR's type of obtuseness with respect to CoViD and the vaccines at the national level as largely responsible for the deaths and ruin of thousands and I have trouble being civil to such people. You are clearly much kinder than me.
          I also noted that they both think or thought I was a bit mad. Maybe with good cause. The group is better off without me.

  12. @seanstanleyadams – nottl died as Geoff had IT issues and retired. We've moved over to Free Speech Backlash – so come and join us there. The Trollograph site is also still open.

    1. Good morning, Ndovu. Geoff's final post on the 10th of October had a link to the Free Speech Backlash site on it, but it no longer does. Are you able to repeat the link here so that I can re-join FSB, please? Thanks.

        1. Thank you, Ndovu. If I knew how to bookmark anything, I would do so. But I shall write it down on a piece of paper just in case.

      1. I wasn’t sure if you’d see my reply Sean – as your comment was on a closed thread. So now you know what’s happened I hope we’ll see you on FSB and the Trollograph – that’s been enlivened by comments from Richard’s descendants…….

      2. My pseudonym's pseudonym tells me you'll be 69 in a month's time.

        Like Bunbury in The Importance of Being Earnest I fear that I am about to be exploded just as Percival Wratt-Strangler was.

  13. Good moaning.
    This has been discussed for years. I have talked to drivers in their thirties and forties who also complain about these darn lights. At this time of year, many in all age groups actually plan their journeys around avoiding hours of darkness.
    (The Net Zero is bowlocks; nothing to do with this matter.)

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/28/headlight-glare-from-net-zero-bulbs-dangerously-bright-cars/

    Headlight glare from net zero bulbs ‘dangerously bright’

    Motorists fear eco-friendly lights more than anything else while driving at night, poll suggests

    28 October 2025 6:00am GMT
    Drivers believe net zero bulbs used in car headlights are dangerously bright, according to a survey.

    A poll of around 1,700 motorists found that the brightness of eco-friendly headlights was the most common reason for people feeling nervous when driving in the dark.

    Of the 38 per cent of drivers surveyed who said they were nervous about driving in the dark, 75 per cent attributed this to bright headlights from oncoming vehicles.

    Some 63 per cent also said their fear of night driving was because they found it more difficult to spot hazards, while 41 per cent said they thought it was harder to judge the speed of other vehicles.

    The RAC believes headlights appear brighter on modern cars because the use of bi-xenon or LED, rather than traditional halogen bulbs, creates a more intense beam, which improves a driver’s view but can be to the detriment of other road users.

    Other potential factors include badly aligned headlights and the prevalence of SUVs, which generally have headlights in a higher position.

    A Government-commissioned report into headlight glare by consultancy TRL is expected to be published shortly.

    Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, said: “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.

    “The fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness from driving at night underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.

    “At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck.”

    Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said many people were responding to the problem of headlight glare by reducing their amount of night and evening driving.

    He urged motorists to check the aim of their headlights and ensure the lenses were clean.

    Issue ‘frustrating for many drivers’

    Denise Voon, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, said patients were “telling us more frequently” that headlight glare was “affecting their ability to see clearly while driving”.

    She added: “We look forward to the findings from the Government’s headlight glare research project and hope this evidence enables the industry to find a solution that will reduce headlight glare and make driving at night safer for everyone.”

    A Westminster Hall debate on the issue will be held on Wednesday.

    Recommended

    A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We know headlight glare is frustrating for many drivers, especially as the evenings get darker. That’s why we commissioned independent research to better understand the causes and impact of glare, which will inform new measures in the upcoming road safety strategy.

    “Alongside this, DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) has stepped up surveillance to intercept the sale of illegal retrofit headlamp bulbs for on-road use, and anyone caught could face a fine of up to £1,000.”

    The survey was conducted by Online95, a market research company, earlier this month.

      1. This page is still open so we can still meet here I suppose. For now at any rate. We seem to have upset some of the FSB people.

        1. Indeed. Also, there are so many comments it’s difficult to keep up. And that’s without the comments to the articles, too.

  14. Some of you are here! 😊😊😊😊😊 I come over once in a while in the hope that somehow Nottlers has opened again. I have no idea how to run something like this otherwise I would ask to do it. Is there someone that can? I don't mean posting a letter every day or the birthdays. But somewhere where we can still go. I'm not enjoying FSB at all. Half the time I don't see people I know. It's just not fun and I don't feel like I belong to a community of people I can feel comfortable with, it's depressing.

    1. The problem lies with the fact that the interface today is horrible compared with twenty years ago, and even worse than in the 1990s when we were limited to dial-up speed and bandwidth. I felt it when comparing Windows 8 with XP. It was like going back to 3.1 with what it could actually do, even though the video and graphical imaging was fancier. Later versions slow everything up with their analytical algorithms and surveillance directives, not to mention the back doors that let hackers in, but keep us out.

      Above all, it was the redesigned GUI that dripfeed us with two or three items on a screen at a time, when previously text links would give us fifty, and these could be customised according to individual preference. This GUI is standard everywhere with no variation.

      Screwfix replaced their catalogue, where one could see all variations on a product in a column on part of a page, and these pages easily flipped through. Now, using their touchscreen wizard-operated system, we get three items on a page before scrolling onto the next three. After scrolling 20 or 30 times forgetting what was there before, I lose the will to live, and they lose a sale and put me off going back there again.

      I had the same experience with both Facebook and YouTube, which I used to enjoy exploring, seeing what was out there. Since their targeted algorithms directing me towards thing that might interest me, and keeping out anything that they think does not reflect my interests, I have lost the joy of random exploration, and rarely go on there now.

      The same thing happened with Yahoo! Answers, which used to have quite a big community of folk with all sorts of interests and fancies and I would wander in wherever my mood took me, without being "guided" by the provider. Their categories made sense then, which weren't all geared to American popular culture. Then they did an upgrade, and it went all horrid, so I gave up on it.

      I was a regular Nottler, and also one of the first in on FSB, which I still visit regularly. I found FSB better for serious discussions, and the Nottlers more like going to the pub where everyone knew each other, and enjoyed their little foibles.

      However, it is limited to one thread per day. Scrolling down 1000 comments, knowing that within hours one's own comment would be out of reach, is offputting, leaving me feeling quite lonely and out of touch with anyone.

      The question is – does anyone these days have the coding skills, the time, patience and the will to avoid the standard and horrid third party javascript apps, and stlll make them work with today's vile operating systems and Government directives?

      1. "However, it is limited to one thread per day. Scrolling down 1000 comments, knowing that within hours one's own comment would be out of reach, is offputting, leaving me feeling quite lonely and out of touch with anyone."

        I agree and I am truly sorry. You and I may have a difference of opinion often, but that doesn't mean that I am unconcerned, I care and think about all the people who were on NOTTLERS, their welfare, their health and the fact that people had somewhere to post if something was wrong. I think people knew that there was concern and love there, but I don't know how to create a group otherwise I would do it. Conway says: "Life goes on." Well yes it does but nevertheless I feel that I have lost something. To be quite frank with you, I do not like FSB. I have a sense of fragmentation when dealing with it, "scrolling down 1000 comments", as you put it. Not fun, not fun trying to find someone . Not fun feeling inhibited to say good morning without someone complaining. And I felt mortally insulted on there. I was censored and that has never happened to me. I made a mix up that I wasn't aware of but I was not asked to fix it. My comment was just erased. In decades of being in one group or another that has never happened to me and it does not give me a high opinion of what is meant by "free speech" on that group.

        I think I will try and find out if someone I know can either start a simple group Nottlers 2. Doesn't have to have todays letter from the Telegraph. Seems to me we ignored that 80% of the time anyway.

        You do know and have Grizzy's email that he posted? He has mine. And he is free to give that out. If you have an idea or know someone who does.

          1. Of course. To my mind that goes without saying. I have never in my most annoyed moments blocked someone.

          2. Indeed so. I've a new account too .
            I do miss it here at Nottl.
            It was a quiet oasis for my rare visits online,
            I hope Nottl friends remain so even amongst the crowd of FSB . I'm amazed this thread is still open .

    2. Agreed re FSB,Johnathan. Too many comments, and so many from people I don't know. My posting has almost dried up as a result.

      1. Me to. I’m trying but its discouraging. I haven’t seen Pip for several days. I will look for him today, hopefully find him.

    3. I look in here from time to time Johnathan as Geoff left this page open. So we're still here. FSB is ok when you get to know the regulars but there are more of them, and there was a bit of resentment at first.

      1. Yes this thread at Nottl is still open. You reach the comments in one only way . Your frequented communities section on the left hand side of your disqus account page – press Not The Daily Telegraph and it'll bring you here

  15. First time here for many lunar eclipses and sorry to hear that's Geoff's retiring. I remember when he was doing the site whilst undergoing major surgery in hospital. What a man!

    Good luck Geoff, best wishes to you and to all those whose names I remember and who are still around.

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