Monarchy -
HRH Prince Charles
Prince Charles backed a Cumbrian
farmer who told him, "If we as a group were
black or gay, we would not be victimised or
picked upon." But, farmers get massive
financial support totalling £7.5billion in
subsidies compared to less than £1billion for
ethnic minorities and virtually nothing for gays.
Farmers were also compensated for BSE and foot
and mouth. The cereal, milk, sheep and beef
sectors get a third of their revenue from the
Government. Their cash includes £5.75billion a
year - £150,000 for every farm - from the EU
common agricultural policy payments.
They were the main beneficiaries of £100million
spent on flood and coastal defences. They are
also set to receive £500million over the next
three years for sustainable farming. Britain's
ethnic minorities get help from the Commission
for Racial Equality which has a £17million
budget. Home Office equality schemes provide
£11million and voluntary organisations, schools,
councils and health services get £100million in
grants. The gay community gets some grants from
the Equal Opportunities Commission and for Aids
charities.
Countryside
Subsidies of £5.75bn, low rate of duty on farm
diesel (3.13p a litre versus 51.82p for
motorists), rate relief for stores, garages and
pubs in rural communities, dedicated Government
department - cost £7.5bn.
Ethnic Groups
Commission for Racial Equality, budget £17m,
Home Office gives grants of about £11m,
voluntary groups and housing organisations get
special assistance, factor in grants for schools,
hospitals, etc - cost £1bn.
Gays in the UK
Included in remit of Equal Opportunities
Commission, some grants to voluntary
organisations dealing with Aids. No recognition
in grant distribution formulae for councils of
health - cost negligible.
Prince Charles threatened to
evict a seriously ill single mum-of-five after
increasing her rent by 66%. Julie May, who has
hepatitis C, was paying £450-a-month rent. But
the prince's Duchy of Cornwall Estate, which
earns £12million a year, put it up to £750 in
February 2004 and she fell behind with payments.
Mrs May now claims all but £960 of her £4,000
rent arrears for the cottage in St Columb Minor,
near Newquay, have been paid by Restormel
council. But Duchy Estate officials have
instructed a solicitor to "proceed with
possession". An estate spokesman said it was
"private" and refused to comment.
How many multi-millionaires would
expect their mother to pay to do up some rooms in
a palatial house for their long-time girlfriend?
Yet Prince Charles appears to feel that the Queen
ought to stump up for the new quarters in
Clarence House for his mistress Camilla Parker
Bowles.
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