Fun-raising antics thwart Government’s charity bill

Wednesday November 26: The Queen’s Speech to the House of Commons includes a draft Charities Bill, which will streamline charity laws and improve the regulation of charities, bringing into question the behaviour of street collectors and how much of your donation goes into paying the wages of the charity muggers – or “chuggers”, as they’re often known.

Thursday November 27: On the biggest day of its year, government regulator The Charity Commission is in great demand. But anyone calling the commission’s offices to find out more about the bill is put through to a spokesman, who kindly explains that the entire team is “on an away day” and unavailable for comment.

The Diary eagerly awaits Gordon Brown’s non-appearance at the next Budget, because he’s off paintballing with his Treasury chums…