The Evil Diaries: “Plus ca change”

The starting salaries of some British workers: Soldier £17,900, Firefighter £21,500, Nurse £21,700, Teacher £22,000, Policeman £23,300 and, finally, London Tube driver £49,600. It is little wonder that the union is protecting the last figure with the desperation of a cornered rat.

When an organisation turns in on itself and engages in absurd poses, death is on its way. Thus must be categorised the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn as a leader candidate whom I have always known to be barmy. It is now disclosed that he is a full blown Trotskyist. Therefore he has no chance of persuading the country to vote Labour. It can only mean the end of the Labour party.

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Sirius (SXX) yesterday floated the idea that it needs to raise £2bn. This is quite a lot of lolly. They might succeed – but I doubt it. What seems to be certain is that there is no chance of this project’s succeeding. If so, Sirius is a very safe short at 17p.

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Meanwhile, the world centre for gasbaggery, Avanti (AVN), offers yet another RNS this morning by way of a contract win. As usual there is no money disclosed or commencement dates. Plus ca change.

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I am reminded in relation to World Acceptance (WRLD) that the alleged short interest in WRLD is 4,300,000 shares (72% of the free float, according to Bloomberg). Days to cover is only 18, thanks to recent high volume, which at least suggests some fragility in the shareholder base.

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Finally, I have received an astonishing account of arson in relation to commercial properties. Note, particularly, the involvement of Isaac Wolfson.