Shortest knight
Martin Amis was knighted the day before he died last month. Has anyone else had so little time to enjoy an honour? Wilfred Stamp, 2nd Baron Stamp, officially holds the record as the shortest-serving peer. He died with his father, Josiah, the 1st Baron Stamp, when their home in Beckenham, Kent was bombed in April 1941. Because no one could be sure in which order father and son had died the law decreed that Wilfred has survived a split second longer than his father. It meant that he would forever be remembered as Lord Stamp – but forced his family to pay death duty twice.
By the by
Has this parliament had an unusual number of by-elections?
– Since 2019: 16, including those to come (4 due to death, 12 resignation)
– 2017-19: 5 (1 death, 4 resignation)
– 2015-17: 10 (3 death, 7 resignation)
– 2010-15: 21 (6 death, 14 resignation, 1 void election)
– 2005-10: 14 (8 death, 6 resignation)
– 2001-05: 6 (4 death, 2 resignation)
– 1997-2001: 17 (10 death, 6 resignation, 1 void election)
– 1992-97: 18 (16 death, 2 resignation)
– 1987-92: 24 (20 death, 4 resignation)
– 1983-87: 31 (11 death, 20 resignation)
– 1979-83: 20 (15 death, 5 resignation)
Picture of health
What are the healthiest, and least healthy, districts of England? Score on government’s Health Index (100 is average):
Healthiest
Harrogate 124.9
Rutland 124.6
Elmbridge 124.1
Waverley 123.1
Hart 122.9
Uttlesford 122.4
Least healthy
Blackpool 76.5
Hull 77.5
Liverpool 79.9
Middlesbrough 80.2
Manchester 81.8
Nottingham 82
Source: ONS
Points of interest
Are high interest rates causing more bankruptcies? Last month there were:
– 2,552 company insolvencies (+40% on May 2022)
– 189 compulsory liquidations (+34%)
– 2,181 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (+38%)
– 617 personal bankruptcies (+5% on May 2022 but only half the level of pre-2020)
Source: The Insolvency Service
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