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Press releases
Press Release
Wednesday 22 November 2006
How to Label a Goat
Harriman House
Red Tape is Cut to Launch Goat
A new book discussing some of Britain’s silliest rules and regulations was launched on Monday evening in London.
The Savile Club in Mayfair played host to the event, where author Ross Clark unveiled his latest publication, How to Label a Goat.
Guests from the political and media world were in attendance, as Ross hosted a light-hearted awards ceremony. The winner of the most absurd regulation was announced - Gordon Brown, for his 'simpilified' pensions' regime; which ran to no less than 1,369 pages!
In second place was Tessa Jowell; for putting a cap of £5 on the value of soft toys allowed to be given away as fairground prizes - incase a £6 teddy bear encouraged a child to become a gambling addict.
And in third place was the the Welsh Assembly; for its impressively detailed work regulating the size and shape of ear tags on Welsh sheep and goats - the 45-page Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Wales) Order 2006.
Named after this particular Order, How to Label a Goat is an eye-opening read that has already caught the attention of literary reviewers. Amongst the examples the book highlights:
- There are 279 different tax forms for businesses alone, asking a total of 6,614 questions
- A woman from Kilbride was given an ASBO, forbidding her from answering the door in her underwear
- And why does the Inland Revenue feel the need to ask us on a tax return, whether we are deep-sea divers?
Following the launch, Ross commented: “Red tape in Britain has reached epidemic proportions. In just 12 months the Government produced a shocking 3,621 pieces of legislation, running to a total of 98,600 pages; that's 13 times as long as War and Peace! If it wasn't so serious, it would be quite funny.”
Commenting on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's victory, he added: "The judges were unanimous in believing the big prize should be reserved for Gordon Brown, a man who has elevated the business of filling in a self-assessment tax return from an irritating chore into consuming, surrealist entertainment. The judges were particularly impressed with the postmodern irony of Mr Brown's pensions simplification running to 1,369 pages, and look forward to many more years of legislation to come."
Fortunately, no rules and regulations were imposed on the launch itself - and the champagne flowed nicely!
Ends
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ross Clark is a journalist who has written extensively for The Times, The Sunday Telegraph and The Mail on Sunday. For some years he wrote a column in The Spectator entitled 'Banned Waggon' which exposed, week by week, the Government's obsession with stopping us doing things. He also writes a regular column for Real Business magazine, looking at the impact of regulation on business. How to Label a Goat is his second published title; his first being the satirical novel, The Great Before.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
More details can be found online at: www.harriman-house.com/goat and www.red-tape.co.uk
For further information on this book or its author, please contact Tom Orchard, or Helen McCusker in the PR department at Harriman House:
Tel: +44 (0)1730 269809
Email: pr@harriman-house.com
Harriman House Ltd, 43 Chapel Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3DY
