Journalists have noticed a new measure that didn’t make it into Rachel Reeve’s Spring Statement speech today. In the small print of the accompanying documents, that only the accountants and tax lawyers read, there is a dramatic new initiative to ban jigsaws.
Jigsaws – basically cut up pictures that you have to reassemble – will be banned for everyone between 16 and state pension age, which currently 66 - at least for a few more weeks. The government describes the new ban as a bold move to address economic inactivity. In other words, too many people of working age are spending too much time trying to complete 5,000 piece jigsaws of baked beans, or kittens, or thatched cottages.
‘The economic impact is huge,’ said a spokesman. ‘The time wasted on doing jigsaws is the equivalent to 2.355% of GDP.’ Everyone listening mentally added ‘FACT’ to the end of that sentence. ‘Banning the sale of new and used jigsaws to people of working age is estimated to increase the numbers in employment by 2.344%, which would be welcome news to Mondeo Man, the Just-About-Managing group and hard-working Britons.
‘Exemptions will be allowed for children’s jigsaws that do not exceed 100 pieces, and for tourist jigsaws. A tourist jigsaw must have a picture of an important British figure (yes to Churchill, Starmer, Thatcher, Robert Peel, Isaac Newton, no to Noel Gallagher, Jimmy Saville, Mr Blobby, Fred West, Yaxley-Lennon), or a British Landmark (yes to Stonehenge, the Cenotaph, Heathrow, Felixstowe Docks, the M25, no to the Bibby Stockholm, the encampment at Greenham Common, the felled Sycamore Gap tree, turds on the beach). In addition, a tourist jigsaw must be made from recycled cardboard, have a union flag on the box, and be priced at £49.95 or more.
Charity shops estimate that not being able to sell jigsaws will cost them around 2.322% of turnover, and have asked the government for extra money to fill the gap.
The spokesman concluded by saying that ‘this government will take the tough decisions necessary to get the economy back on its feet and to boost growth. It’s a long process. We’re fighting Britain’s corner, and we’re taking it one piece at a time.’
Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash
