How to Label a Goat

More about the book

Have you ever felt exasperated while filling out an official form and wondered about its purpose? You're not alone. Red tape in Britain has become overwhelming, with the Government producing an astonishing 3,621 pieces of legislation in just one year, totaling 98,600 pages—70 times longer than War and Peace! In this insightful work, Ross Clark highlights some of the most absurd rules and regulations affecting Britons today. For instance, there are 279 different tax forms for businesses that pose 6,614 questions, and the Treasury's 'simplified' pensions regime is explained in a staggering 1,369 pages. He uncovers bizarre laws, such as the one allowing you to kill or give away a bullfinch but not sell it. A woman in Kilbride received an ASBO for answering the door in her underwear, while a council spent £5,000 on yew trees for a play area, only to remove them due to health concerns. Other oddities include a police force with 1,150 crime report forms and 1,300 pages of road traffic law. Employers are advised against holding meetings on October 31 to avoid discriminating against pagans. A motorist was fined for parking on nonexistent double yellow lines, and various activities, from making daisy chains to playing hopscotch, have been banned due to safety concerns. This eye-opening exploration reveals just how pervasive red tape has become.