The british Weekly, Sat. March 11, 2017 Page 1 Immigration Attorney Steven Landaal • Green Cards through Marriage and Family • Employment Visas • Monthly Payments Available Tel: (310) 395-2828 Diana butler ‘to wed gay lover’ - p5 See our ad on Page 3 California’s British Accent ™ - Since 1984 Saturday, March 11, 2017 • Number 1669 Always Free Back to work for ex-MI6 spy behind Trump sex claims THE former British spy who claimed Donald Trump had been snared in a Russian sex plot has appeared in public for the first time since his explosive dossier was revealed. Christopher Steele agents filmed Mr Trump dossier, which was based returned to work at watching prostitutes on information gathered his London office on perform sex acts on each before the US President Monday after waiting for other. launched his political the furore surrounding But as he arrived career. the allegations to die at his workplace on The ex-MI6 officer down. Grosvenor Gardens returned to work at The Cambridge in London’s exclusive his security firm Orbis graduate, 52, wrote Belgravia neighborhood, Business Intelligence. an intelligence report he refused to answer He said: “I’m really claiming Moscow questions about the pleased to be back here working again. “I’d like to say a warm thank you to everyone who sent me kind messages and support over the last few weeks. I won’t be making any further statements or comments at this time.” IN FROM THE COLD: ex-spy Christopher Steele in London this week ‘phoney allegations’ Mr Steele went into maverick Republican hiding in January after had multiple contacts the secret 35-page file, with Moscow officials alleging Russia had during the presidential gathered compromising election campaign. material on the new Sources cited in President, became public. the file alleged the The file suggested property tycoon had agents had secretly been cultivated for up filmed Mr Trump to five years in a bid to watching a sex show at a destabilize the West. Moscow hotel. However, Mr Trump He was said to have said: “The phoney SIDE-EYE: Trump has dimissed the dossier’s claims chosen a suite which had allegations against me Adele tells fans: previously been slept in were put together by my sleaze-bag political defended its “track record by Barack and Michelle political opponents and a operatives – Democrats of strategic intelligence, Yes, I’m married Obama during an official failed spy afraid of being and Republicans. Fake forensic investigation SEE PAGE 5 visit. sued. news.” and risk consulting It also claimed the “Made-up facts by But Orbis this week services”. Inside: News from Britain 2-6; Meet a Member 7, Crossword 7, Stargazing 9, Book Review 9, Brits in LA 10, Sean Borg 11, Legal Notices 12-17, Sport 18-20 Page 2 The british Weekly, Sat. March 11, 2017 News From Britain Budget 2017: pro-pub, anti-gig economy? Chancellor sparks row with tax hike on self-employed Chancellor of the In the following while pupils who are Exchequer Philip financial year, 2017-18, eligible for free school Hammond outlined borrowing will be £58.3 meals at selective schools the Government’s billion before dropping will also be given free spending plans for to £40.6 billion in 2018-19 school transport. the next few years in and then £21.4 billion in his spring Budget this 2019-20. Health and social care week, with a tax hike Debt increased to 86.7 An extra £2 billion is to be for the self-employed per cent this year but will ploughed into social care and a big boost for local fall to just below 80 per over the next three years pubs dominating the cent in 2021-22. to help local authorities headlines. ease the pressure on the Education NHS. £100 million will Here is a summary of the The Chancellor said be used to put more GPs announcements: there will be £216 million in A&E departments next The health of the invested in improving winter in a bid to relieve economy schools over the next the burden. The UK’s economy is set three years. to grow by two per cent Students aged 16 to Taxation this year, much faster 19 will have the chance Millions of people who than the 1.4 per cent to complete “T Levels”. are self-employed face previously predicted These are 15 technical a hike in the amount of by the Office of Budget qualifications which will tax they are set to pay. Responsibility. But from be rolled out to replace Their National Insurance 2018 GDP growth is the 13,000 technical contributions, the main STEADY AS SHE GOES: Hammond delivered an upbeat economic forecast expected to slow to 1.6 certificates currently on rate of Class 4, will rise per cent before picking offer and will include by one per cent to 10 with most employees. The living wage will also businesses who are the up to 1.7 per cent in 2019. a three-month work per cent next year, and But all self-employed rise to £7.50 in April. The hardest hit. A big share UK employment is placement for each to 11 per cent in April people earning less than personal tax allowance of this is expected to go also robust. It is expected student. 2019. The increase works £16,250 will still see a will rise for the seventh to London. to grow every year with a There will be £320 out at around 60p more reduction in NI. year in a row to £11,500 There will be a further 650,000 people in million made available a week on average The threshold of tax- this year and £12,500 by consultation on work by 2021. for 110 free schools on and will raise £145 free allowance on share 2020. controversial proposals Inflation will peak at top of the 500 which million for the Treasury. dividends for directors A so-called “death tax” to raise business 2.4 per cent this year already receive funding. Critics immediately and shareholders has on estates has been ruled rates, Mr Hammond before falling to 2.3 per Education will alsl be seized on the hike as been slashed from £5,000 out. announced. Rates will cent in 2018 and two per given the £1 billion potentially damaging to £2,000 from 2018. not be increased by more cent in 2019. earmarked from the to the so-called ‘gig The move is likely to hit Business than £50 a month for proceeds of the much- economy’ - a reference those with shares worth Pubs will get a £1,000 small businesses. Public borrowing and publicised sugar tax on to the increasing number £50,000 and above but discount on their bills The Treasury has the deficit fizzy drinks, which has of Britons dependent on will raise £2.6 billion in 2017 if their rateable also announced £270 The Government is raised less than expected. irregular and short term for the Treasury in four value is less than million into the UK’s set to borrow less than Academia will benefit work. years. £100,000. work in “disruptive previously predicted. from £300 million for But Mr Hammond said Income tax rates will Local authorities will technologies” which £51.7 billion will be 1,000 new PhD places the self-employed were not rise and there will also be given a £300 includes biotech, robotic borrowed this year, £16.4 in science, technology, currently receiving unfair be no changes to VAT or million so-called systems and driverless billion less than forecast. engineering and maths, advantages compared other National Insurance. “hardship fund” to help cars. Now featuring delicious, traditional handmade pies and pasties from Deli-SA. Chicken curry pasties, Cornish pasties, Steak & Kidney...and much more Teas • Candy • Pastries • Bangers • Meat Pies • Heinz Beans • China Teapots • Tea Cozies • Gifts Quality Imports from the British Isles... 2995 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. (parking in rear) Open: Mon-Sat. 10.30-5.30 • Sun: 12-6 • Tel: (805) 495-4042 The british Weekly, Sat. March 11, 2017 Page 3 News From Britain Kidnapped, raped and throttled, 2-month ordeal of backpack girl A BRITISH backpacker The victim was captured who was kidnapped, on CCTV enteringthe raped, beaten and petrol station in Mitchell choked during a 1,000- on Sunday and a police mile horror trip through patrol later stopped a Australia was set for a white Mitsubishi Pajero tearful reunion with her she was driving. Officers family this week. found her Australian The 22-year-old’s ex-boyfriend Marcus relatives to have flown Martin, 22, allegedly out after police arrested hiding in a secret alcove her ex-boyfriend. covered by clothes in the It emerged on Monday rear of the vehicle. that the woman was allegedly held prisoner string of offences in a hotel for a month Mrs Page told how The 4WD where the backpacker was allgedly held This picture of the man alleged to be the kidnapper before being forced to the woman had looked hostage, raped and beaten for two months was published by 7News in Australia this week drive for weeks through “zombie-like” at the her ex-boyfriend and raped and throttled after page suggested she was had previously had a Queensland, Australia, station and added: “She she nodded. meeting Mr Martin at enjoying her trip until relationship but at some in her captor’s SUV car. couldn’t pay for the “If she had been able an outdoor music event January. point it had soured and Her two month- fuel.