News
Attack on Jabalia hints at controversial Israeli plan for northern Gaza
On Saturday morning, a message was posted on social media by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman warning people living in the ‘D5’ area of northern Gaza to move south. D5 is a square on the grid superimposed over maps of Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It is a block that is split into several dozen smaller areas.
The message, the latest in a series, said: “The IDF is operating with great force against the terrorist organisations and will continue to do so for a long time. The designated area, including the shelters located there, is considered a dangerous combat zone. The area must be evacuated immediately via Salah al-Din Road to the humanitarian area.”
A map is attached with a large yellow arrow pointing from block D5 down to the south of Gaza. Salah al-Din Road is the main north-south route. The message is not promising a swift return to the places people have been living in, an area that has been pulverised by a year of repeated Israeli attacks. The heart of the message is that the IDF will be using “great force… for a long time”. In other words, don’t expect to come back any time soon.
The humanitarian area designated by Israel in the message is al-Mawasi, previously an agricultural area on the coast near Rafah. It is overcrowded and no safer than many other parts of Gaza. BBC Verify has tracked at least 18 airstrikes on the area.
Hamas has sent out its own messages to the 400,000 people left in northern Gaza, an area that was once the urban heartland of the Strip with a population of 1.4m. Hamas is telling them not to move. The south, they are told, is just as dangerous. As well as that, Hamas is warning them that they will not be allowed back.
Many people appear to be staying put, despite Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments. When I went down to an area overlooking northern Gaza I could hear explosions and see columns of smoke rising. The intensity reminded me of the first months of the war.
Some of the people who have stayed in northern Gaza when so many others have already fled south are doing so to remain with vulnerable relatives. Others are from families with connections to Hamas. Under the laws of war, that does not automatically make them belligerents.
One tactic that has been used over the last year by civilians who want to avoid IDF operations without taking their chances in the overcrowded and dangerous south of Gaza is to move elsewhere in the north, for example from Beit Hanoun to Gaza City, while the IDF is operating near their homes or shelters. When the army moves on, they return.
The IDF is trying to stop that happening, according to BBC colleagues who are daily contact with Palestinians in Gaza. It is channelling families who are moving in one direction only, down Salah al-Din, the main road to the south.
Israel does not allow journalists to enter Gaza to report the war, except for brief, rare and closely supervised trips with the IDF. Palestinian journalists who were there on 7 October still do brave work. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 128 Palestinian media workers in Gaza have been killed since the war began. In northern Gaza, since Israel went back on the offensive, they have been filming panic-stricken families as they flee, often with small children helping out by carrying oversized backpacks.
One of them sent out a brief interview with a woman called Manar al-Bayar who was rushing down the street carrying a toddler. She was saying as she half-walked, half-ran on the way out of Jabalia refugee camp that “they told us we had five minutes to leave the Fallujah school. Where do we go? In southern Gaza there are assassinations. In western Gaza they’re shelling people. Where do we go, oh God? God is our only chance.”
The journey is hard. Sometimes, Palestinians in Gaza say, people on the move are fired on by the IDF. It insists that Israeli soldiers observe strict rules of engagement that respect international humanitarian law.
But Medical Aid for Palestinians’ head of protection, Liz Allcock, says the evidence presented by wounded civilians suggest that they have been targeted.
“When we’re receiving patients in hospitals, a large number of those women and children and people of, if you like, non-combatant age are receiving direct shots to the head, to the spine, to the limbs, very indicative of the direct targeted attack.”
Once again, the UN and aid agencies who work in Gaza are saying that Israeli military pressure is deepening what is already a humanitarian catastrophe.
Desperate messages are being relayed from the remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, saying that they are running low on fuel to power the generators that keep the hospitals going, and keep badly wounded patients alive. Some hospitals report that their buildings have been attacked by the Israelis.
The suspicion among Palestinians, the UN and relief agencies is that the IDF is gradually adopting some or all of a new tactic to clear northern Gaza known as the “Generals’ Plan”. It was proposed by a group of retired senior officers led by Maj-Gen (ret) Giora Eiland, who is a former national security adviser.
Like most Israelis they are frustrated and angry that a year into the war Israel still has not achieved its war aims of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. The Generals’ Plan is a new idea that its instigators believe can, from Israel’s perspective, break the deadlock.
At its heart is the idea that Israel can force the surrender of Hamas and its leader Yahya Sinwar by increasing the pressure on the entire population of the north. The first step is to order civilians to leave along evacuation corridors that will take them south of Wadi Gaza, an east-west stream that has become a dividing line in Gaza since the Israeli invasion last October.
Giora Eiland believes Israel should have done a deal straight away to get the hostages back, even if it meant pulling out of Gaza entirely. A year later, other methods, he says, are necessary.
In his office in central Israel, he laid out the heart of the plan.
“Since we already encircled the northern part of Gaza in the past nine or 10 months, what we should do is the following thing to tell all the 300,000 residents [that the UN estimates is 400,000] who still live in the northern part of Gaza that they have to leave this area and they should be given 10 days to leave through safe corridors that Israel will provide.
“And after that time, all this area will become to be a military zone. And all the Hamas people will still, though, whether some of them are fighters, some of them are civilians… will have two choices either to surrender or to starve.”
Eiland wants Israel to seal the areas once the evacuation corridors are closed. Anyone left behind would be treated as an enemy combatant. The area would be under siege, with the army blocking all supplies of food, water or other necessities of life from going in. He believes the pressure would become unbearable and what is left of Hamas would rapidly crumble, freeing the surviving hostages and giving Israel the victory it craves.
The UN World Food Programme says that the current offensive in Gaza is having a “disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinian families”. The main crossings into northern Gaza, it says, have been closed and no food aid has entered the strip since 1 October. Mobile kitchens and bakeries have been forced to stop work because of air strikes. The only functioning bakery in the north, which is supported by WFP, caught fire after it was hit by an explosive munition. The position in the south is almost as dire.
It is not clear whether the IDF has adopted the Generals’ Plan in part or in full, but the circumstantial evidence of what is being done in Gaza suggests it is at the very least a strong influence on the tactics being used against the population. The BBC submitted a list of questions to the IDF, which were not answered.
The ultra-nationalist extremists in Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet want to replace Palestinians in northern Gaza with Jewish settlers. Among many statements he’s made on the subject, the finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said “Our heroic fighters and soldiers are destroying the evil of Hamas, and we will occupy the Gaza Strip… to tell the truth, where there is no settlement, there is no security.”
Money
Three rare coins that could be worth £130,000 – including 1p that could make you ‘retire early’
WHAT could be mistaken as pocket change might actually be worth a whopping £130k.
These three rare coins are a collectors dream and might be hiding down the back of your sofa.
Coin Collector UK is a rare coin guru who has put together a list of the three pieces of change that would upgrade your entire life.
In one of his TikTok videos he said: “You can take an early retirement if you find these coins.”
The 1933 penny coin
The first of the three is the highly sought after 1933 penny coin in which collectors are desperate to get their hands on.
He added: “One of these old pennies sold at auction for £127,000.
“The year you need to find is 1933 – less than 10 of these were ever produced.
“These are worth huge money with one selling for well over £100,000 pounds and another for about £86,000.”
While there are other dates to look out for, there are only seven 1933 coins known to exist.
It was once for a staggering £140k and the collector predicts the next one to be found could be sold for even more.
You would be able to trade it for a supercar if you manage to spot one of these coins.
The Olympic Aquatics coin
The next rare find is the The Olympic Aquatics coin which can reach up to £2,000 due to its printing error.
There are thought to be 600 pieces of these 50p coins misprinted in 2011 ahead of the London celebrations with each being worth more than just a pretty penny.
These coins were printed with lines, mimicking water ripples, over the swimmers‘ head whereas her face was originally designed to be more visible.
The image was quickly changed when the Royal Mint modified the design, leaving only a few of these original coins in circulation.
This slight distortion has collectors battling over the limited edition piece, with one of the highest bidder spending £3,766 to take the precious coin home.
The Lord Kitchener £2 coin
The final one is the most recently printed coin and its details are what makes so valuable.
It is a £2 coin from 2014 featuring Lord Kitchener – a British military leader.
He is easily recognised pointing in the military recruitment posters stating “Your country needs you.”
These coins can fetch up £800 – but only if it has this specific printing error.
Only a few of these have been found and one TikTok user called @thecoincollectoruk revealed what to look for.
In a TikTok video he stated: “If you find this £2 coin check it for an extremely rare error.
“The coin must lack the inscription “two pounds” on the Queen’s side, otherwise it’s just a regular £2 coin.”
Apparently there are over 5,700,000 of the regular £2 but only a handful of the misprinted ones.
What are the most rare and valuable coins?
Money
From pet rats to an itchy dog – your pet queries answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.
Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.
He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”
Q) MY children Emma and Lila want some pet rats, and are aged seven and eight. Is that too young?
LIZZIE HORTON, Reading, Berks
Sean says: Borderline in age, I would say, so it depends on their level of enthusiasm, responsibility and ability to gently care for their pets.
Rats make the most fantastic pets, being very intelligent, clean and just so interactive.
Your girls can even teach them tricks.
They are the pet dogs of the rodent world, for sure. Maybe find someone locally who has a pet rat then go and handle it and learn more about its care.
You’ll have a better idea then if your girls are ready for this.
But good luck saying no to them after they fall in love with the idea of a pet rat.
Q) MY dog has really bad allergies. Vera is a Dalmation and gets so bothered by her constant itches.
It affects her paws and stomach and is awful.
We use Apoquel and Piriton but they are both so expensive. Could I use any other over-the-counter antihistamine, do you think?
BEN THOMAS, Crawley
Sean says: Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, antihistamines don’t always work very well with dogs — some are better than others and it depends on the individual dog.
Some over-the-counter options may have only a mild effect on itchiness, and some human antihistamines are dangerous for your dog.
Please speak with your vet about your options here, being honest that you are finding it hard financially to keep on top of Vera’s medication bill.
We can usually offer alternatives.
But bear in mind that itchy dogs can be just as frustrating for us vets, to get to the bottom of.
It’s not always a quick fix. Sometimes it can be best in the long run to try to find out what a dog is allergic to, and try to reduce or at least minimise exposure if at all possible.
Q) I WORRY that my cat doesn’t drink enough.
Pepper has had a couple of urinary infections in the past year. Do you think it’s worth trying running water rather than a bowl?
MIA EDWARDS, Bromley
Sean says: Yes, for cats that have a history of kidney or bladder issues, and those that don’t drink much, it’s always a good idea to invest in a cat water fountain.
Cats are funny creatures in their drinking habits sometimes, but running water does encourage them to keep up their water intake and support healthy kidney function.
Getting some wet food into Pepper’s diet will also help to improve her hydration situation.
Q) HOW do you know what sex your tortoise is?
I have an 80-year-old who we thought was a male. Then a vet surprised us and said they think it’s a female.
We don’t know for sure. Is there a definitive way of telling the sex of a tortoise? Ours is called Speedy.
KAREN HARRIS, Sudbury, Suffolk
Sean says: It depends a little bit on species, as there is so much variation.
But the general rule is that males have a longer tail, which is thicker at the base for housing their “equipment”, whereas females have a shorter, thinner tail.
Males also often have a concave plastron, which is the underside of the shell. The female’s plastron, or belly, is flat.
The concave or curved plastron in male tortoises allows them to fit more comfortably on top of the female when they are having “adult tortoise piggy back rides”, if you catch my drift.
Star of the week
MINIATURE dachshund Pip may have been a pocket-sized pooch – but also gave a gigantic amount of love until he died last week.
Adored by Romy Turnbull, 11, her younger brother George, 6, and mum Helen, the 13-year-old pup filled their lives with joy.
Pip had a huge character and when he wasn’t chasing balls while on walks with Romy he loved devouring his favourite treat of chicken.
He was even allowed to sleep on Romy’s bed at night.
Their father Dominic, from Hertfordshire, said: “Pip was adored by Romy and George, and he was a mischievous fixture of family life from his arrival as a tiny, fearful pup.
“Farewell loyal friend – and thank you for a full life and the love you brought to us all.”
WIN: Session with pet behaviourist
WANT a happier, stress-free life with your cat?
Win three hours of online support with behaviourist Lisa Sinnott, from St Claws Academy, worth £375.
You get tailored advice and six months of follow-up support, and just need a referral from your vet.
To enter, email CAT to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by Oct 20. See stclawsacademy.co.uk.
Terms and conditions apply.
It’s good to talk… and walk the dog
WE’RE a nation of dog borrowers, according to a study which says one in eight of us take other people’s mutts for walkies.
More and more non-owners beg pals for a mood-boosting loan of man’s best friend, says pet-sitting and walking service Rover.com.
Dog ownership has gone from around 11 million to 13 million in the last four years.
A Rover.com spokesman says: “Our research showed that the mental health of dog owners was much improved after getting a dog.
“It can help us stay active, eases loneliness and gives us a reason to smile and laugh every day.
“But those who don’t have their own dog are still finding ways to enjoy the benefits, with 49 per cent saying just being around dogs – even if not their own – improves their mood.”
Claire Bowman, 33, of Tonbridge, Kent is desperate for a dog and her landlord won’t allow it.
But nurse Claire says: “I take my friend’s sausage dog Chucky out for a walk twice a week.
“As soon as I see him, he runs over to me and starts licking me, so I’m smiling from the moment I see him until I hand him back.”
Money
October Budget could see A THIRD of Brit businesses activate ‘exit plans’ thanks to major tax change
A THIRD of British businesses are working on “exit plans” ahead of the October Budget’s rumoured tax shakeup, a survey of executives have found.
Bosses are “fast-tracking” their preparations to try and reduce the impact of a “painful” rate hike.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will rise to the dispatch box on October 30, seeking to fill what ministers have called a £22 billion “black hole” in the books.
Labour has repeatedly promised not to increase the main rates of income tax, national insurance and VAT and has limited any rises in corporation tax to no higher than 25%.
As a result, ministers are looking around for other ways to raise the cash necessary to plug the “black hole”.
It has been rumoured that Ms Reeves could seek to equalise capital gains tax (CGT) with income tax as part of the Treasury’s efforts to right the financial ship,
This could see businesses handing as much as 45% of their profits in capital transactions to the Exchequer.
What is capital gains tax and who pays it?
By Jacob Jaffa
Capital gains tax (CGT) is raised on the profits derived from the sale of assets.
It is separated from income tax, which is charged on earnings paid out in return for work.
CGT applies to the sale of any personal possession worth over £6,000 (apart from vehicles) and any shares or business assets.
A version of the tax also applies to certain properties with the sale of any second home and, in some cases, your main home subject to the charge.
There is also an allowance of £3,000 on anything that is not a personal belonging (e.g. shares) and £1,500 for trusts.
It is currently charged at a basic rate of 10%, which rises to 18% when dealing with property.
However, if you pay the higher rate of income tax, this jumps to 20% and 24% respectively.
Likewise, if the sale value of your asset is above the basic income tax threshold (currently £50,270) you will be charged the higher rates on the amount you go over by.
The rate is currently just 10% for most deals, rising to 18% on the sale of residential property.
Senior Labour figures have long pushed for equalisation, arguing that capital gains are just like any other form of income and should be taxed accordingly.
But critics maintain that such a move would disincentivise investment, drive down productivity and put the handbrake on economic growth.
A new study from wealth management company Evelyn Partners suggests that almost a third of entrepreneurs in the UK are now working on “exit plans” – up 6% from 18 months ago.
This would involve businesses selling off as many assets as possible before the Budget in order to benefit from the lower rate before the tax is potentially hiked.
Around a quarter of those asked said they had accelerated their plans to pull out of solid assets thanks to worries over CGT.
And a fifth said they had done the same due to concerns of potential cuts to inheritance tax relief.
Laura Hayward, of Evelyn Partners, said: “As opinion polls increasingly suggested a change in government and the consequential potential for tax changes was becoming more likely, an increasing number of business owners have got in touch with us to have conversations about business exits.
“The business environment for many owners has already been tough enough in recent years as they have worked hard to rebuild their businesses after the pandemic, against a backdrop of cost-of-living pressures and high inflation.
“Add to that the potential for unfavourable tax changes in the upcoming Budget and it’s completely understandable that some are hoping to realise the gains of their successes sooner rather than later.”
It comes after The Sun exclusively revealed that Ms Reeve’s top aide had hinted at higher eco-taxes being announced in the Budget.
There was also public outcry over the expected decision to reverse a 2022 cut in fuel duty, despite the Government’s pledge not to raise taxes on “working people”.
Travel
I went to the UK holiday resort that’s more like Ibiza – with ‘island’ parties and silent discos
THE energy is high as my fellow party-goers, dressed in blinging club gear, and with their faces covered in glitter, fling their hands towards the sky.
Club classics are echoing around the room while powerhouse singers belt out melodies and podium dancers twist their bodies in time to the music.
This could easily be a thumping club night in Ibiza, but instead of heavy beats in a warehouse, we’re listening to club tunes played by stringed instruments and saxophones in a countryside setting.
I’m at Warner Leisure’s Heythrop Park for an Ibiza Sunsets break that proves you really don’t need to fork out on flights to the White Isle to party like you’re there.
For this weekend, the Oxfordshire countryside retreat was hosting DJ sets from dance aficionados Dave Pearce and Vernon Kay, reimagined anthems from 16-piece orchestra Ibiza In Symphony, and even an old-school neon party, complete with glow sticks.
Heythrop Park, a Grade II-listed former stately home, is more reminiscent of Downton Abbey than the super-clubs of San Antonio.
Although the musical welcome from a saxophonist immediately conjured up memories of the party island.
I was staying in a spacious superior room with large windows offering amazing views of the parkland and countryside setting — a little different to the seaside surroundings of many Ibiza hotels.
A more typical Warner weekend is usually itinerary-led and packed with activities, but an Ibiza Sunsets break is a more chilled affair.
There is evening entertainment spread across the three-day weekend, including DJ sets inspired by legendary San Antonio nightspot Cafe Mambo.
But the rest of the time can be spent at leisure, taking advantage of activities such as archery and clay pigeon shooting or yoga.
The first day involved a peaceful stroll around the grounds where I stumbled across a silent disco in full swing in the beach club-like Moroccan Garden.
We were ushered to join in with the stomping feet, but it turned out to be just as much fun watching the crowd quietly cutting some shapes.
With all that partying, there’s bound to be a few sore feet — and heads — so when you’re not swaying to melodies, you can fill your time with a visit to the onsite spa.
I opted for a dip in the pool and a sauna for as long as I could withstand the heat, before heading to the outside hot tubs.
Unusually for British summer time, the weather was glorious when I visited.
And without a cloud in the sky, I could almost believe I was in the Balearics.
For those in need of real TLC, optional extras at the spa include facials, mud wraps and reflexology treatments.
Stomping feet
I’d booked in for a Drift Away full-body massage which certainly eased my aching limbs and put me into a zen-like state.
Ibiza Sunsets packages include breakfasts and three-course dinners, so you will never go hungry.
The hotel’s poshest restaurant, Brasserie 32, serves refined pub fare including fish pies, beef short rib and risottos.
Or there’s the Market Kitchen, a buffet-style restaurant in the pretty orangery.
I ate there on my final evening and was serenaded by a flamenco guitarist.
Outside of the main restaurants, visitors can party the nights away in the Late Lounge bar which got everyone on their feet dancing to anthems during my stay.
If you prefer a more cosy atmosphere, the resort’s pub, The Travelling Duke, serves spirits, ales and ciders as well as steaks, and fish and chip dinners.
With the sun still beating down, it seemed rude not to have a drink outside on the terrace where a DJ was playing chilled Ibiza sounds that channelled the energy of the famous sunset sessions at Cafe Del Mar.
Then it was time for the final evening event — the one we had all been waiting for — as celebrated dance DJs Dave and Vernon took to the decks to transport us back 30 years to the Nineties.
And they certainly didn’t disappoint!
The Late Lounge erupted to the exhilarating sounds of Robert Miles, Darude, Faithless and many more, amid an atmosphere that could only be described as electric.
I couldn’t have been more grateful for my ultra-comfy bed at the end of the night.
Partying that hard in your fifties can be exhausting, but not when you have access to Heythrop’s plush facilities.
I could get used to this.
GO: Heythorp Park
THREE-night adult-only breaks at Warner Leisure Hotels cost from £229 per person.
For more details and booking, see warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
Money
Ugly side of fashion giant Shein revealed as retailer slammed by rivals for ‘unfair tactics’ to keep prices low
IT is the world’s largest fashion retailer, which has been endorsed by Khloe Kardashian and Katy Perry.
Chinese online juggernaut Shein launched 12 years ago, yet it is tipped for a historic and controversial £50billion float on the London Stock Exchange as early as this autumn — the biggest in more than a decade.
Britain’s addiction to the ultra-low cost clothing means an estimated 520,000 items are shipped a day to Brits.
Today a Sun on Sunday probe reveals how Shein, which had sales of £1.55billion in 2023 yet operates with just 33 staff in its UK arm, has been accused of exploiting a tax loophole.
According to latest figures from Companies House, the fashion giant’s pre-tax profits doubled year on year to £24.2million and it paid £5.7million in taxes, up from £2.3million the previous year.
Now rivals have slammed Shein for using “unfair” tactics to keep its prices at rock bottom, while being able to fork out on glossy adverts around the country and on the London Tube network, which carries five million passengers a day.
Shein uses the so-called “de minimis” rule, which allows shipments of less than £135 to be exempt from import duties.
Last night, one chief executive told the Sun on Sunday that the loophole was “a wheeze that saves Shein millions of pounds”.
He said: “It’s an unfair playing field — of course it is. We all have to pay duties to ship clothes to customers here. But because their shipments are individually packed, they don’t?
“At a time when the Government can’t stop talking about this £22billion hole it needs to plug, why doesn’t Chancellor Rachel Reeves go after some of these big players that are obviously not paying the right amount of tax and duties?”
Superdry founder and CEO Julian Dunkerton has previously said it would be in the UK’s interests to get rid of the loophole.
Boohoo CEO John Lyttle has also urged the Government to close it.
Last month, US President Joe Biden announced he was closing a similar loophole, which allowed imports of individual packages of up to £600, ramping up pressure for change in the UK too.
Tax expert Dan Neidle says that Shein is avoiding tax of eight per cent on footwear and 12 per cent on clothing.
This amounts to an average saving of ten per cent — as much as £155million — that the company does not have to pay in tax.
Chinese company Super Smart Service processes Shein’s UK orders, with clothes costing on average £7.90, along with other companies including Amazon and eBay from a warehouse in Cannock, Staffordshire.
Super Smart Service’s turnover has more than doubled from £23.4million in 2020 to £56million in 2023 — and its profits have also doubled from £3.5million to £7.3million over the same period.
By using this third-party logistics partner, Shein can ship directly to customers in the UK.
Multi-billionaire
It also means items are not held as stock in warehouses here, which avoids storage costs — driving down prices even further.
The company, which has switched its headquarters to Singapore to reduce the Chinese government’s influence, is only considering listing in the UK after it was told it was not welcome on the New York stock exchange.
Shein has offices in Westminster, in a building that was once the headquarters of MI6.
There is also an office in Manchester — the same city that is home to rivals Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing as well as Missguided, which Shein acquired last year.
Shein was founded in 2012 by Sky Xu, also known as Xu Yangtian, who is already a multi-billionaire at the age of 40.
The mysterious boss, who largely keeps a low profile, reportedly flies so under the radar that employees joke they do not recognise him at the office.
At a time when the Government can’t stop talking about this £22billion hole it needs to plug, why doesn’t Chancellor Rachel Reeves go after some of these big players that are obviously not paying the right amount of tax and duties?
Sun source
He was born in Zibo, a manufacturing city in China’s Shandong province, where his parents were workers in state-owned factories.
He went on to study international trade at Qingdao University of Science and Technology.
One person who worked with him described him as bespectacled, “shy” and a lover of golf.
He shook up the supply process by ditching the traditional method of exporting abroad.
The company, which staged celebrity-packed fundraising virtual festivals during Covid, has tech wizards who use complex algorithms to scour trends from Google, social media and online shoppers to work out what will be a fashion hit.
Clothes are then made in hundreds of factories in Panyu, a district in Guangzhou, southern China, which the retailer dominates so much the hub is called Shein Village.
Around 80 per cent of the 7,000 factories in the town work for Shein. Restaurants now serve dishes from all over China to armies of migrant workers.
The company’s own website claims it has 10,000 employees worldwide and sells to over 150 countries.
Instead of making large long-term orders with factories, Shein uses “low-batch ordering,” which means it will get a factory to make 100 items and only increase volumes if it sells well.
The Chinese goods are shipped to Guangzhou Airport using low-cost postal service China Post and sent to the Midlands.
Initially, factories did not want to work with the online retailer.
But when a product goes viral they can hit the jackpot by churning out hundreds of thousands of the same piece.
One factory manager said: “When Shein first arrived, no one wanted to work with them because the orders were too small. By 2020, everyone was working with Shein because their orders were so big.”
Its own website says “customers will receive orders via our UK Courier partners and not need to deal with any custom affairs”.
When Shein first arrived, no one wanted to work with them because the orders were too small. By 2020, everyone was working with Shein because their orders were so big
Factory manager
As well as the tax loophole, Shein has faced controversies including accusations by Stop Uyghur Genocide, which claims there is forced labour in its supply chain. The charity says Shein should be barred from listing on the London Stock Exchange.
In its 2023 Sustainability and Social Impact Report, Shein admitted two cases of child labour and temporarily suspended orders from the suppliers involved. It did not resume business until the suppliers tackled the issue.
It also admitted its carbon emmisions increased by 81 per cent between 2022 and 2023. Shein insisted it has a “zero tolerance” approach to worker mistreatment.
Liam Byrne, chairman of the Business and Trade committee, said: “We can’t allow British business and consumers to be undercut or cheated in a race to the bottom on standards, especially when there are questions about whether forced labour is being used.
“That’s why I’d like to see our new government make good on the promise made, but never delivered, by Conservatives in the 2022 Queen’s Speech, to strengthen the modern slavery act and toughen up requirements on supply chain reporting.”
Alice Price, of GlobalData, said Shein’s low-cost model and response to demand meant it can steal customers from British firms.
She said: “Shein’s burgeoning influence over the UK market is attributed to its unbeatable prices, and its rapid ability to churn out the latest micro trends on a colossal scale. This has allowed it to become a firm favourite among younger shoppers, and steal share away from other online specialists like ASOS and boohoo.com.”
Shein has previously said it complies fully with all its UK tax liabilities.
The company told the Sun on Sunday: “Shein’s success comes from our ability to produce fashionable products. We keep prices affordable through our on-demand business model and flexible supply chain. This reduces inefficiency, takes out wastage of material, and lowers our unsold inventory.
“We pass this advantage to our customers and this has driven our success around the world, not the exemptions that retailers receive under current tax regimes. We will work with policy makers and industry peers to review frameworks.”
HURT TO BRITISH FIRMS
FIVE years ago, most people didn’t know how to pronounce Shein.
Even senior retail bosses would say: “Have you heard of this new Shine?”
Their ignorance did not last long, as they watched customers desert them for an upstart that was doing everything faster and cheaper.
Shein, pronounced She-in after its odd original name She Inside, is now firmly in the spotlight.
It used to be just young shoppers posting their “Shein hauls” of cheap bodycon dresses on TikTok and Instagram. But now the name is on the lips of those in Westminster and the City, as it works on a stock market listing in London.
To boost its British credibility it is now surrounded by an army of highly paid advisers. The company, which has switched its headquarters to Singapore to lessen Chinese government influence, is only considering listing in the UK after it was told it was not welcome on the New York stock exchanges.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to encourage international investment into Britain and stimulate a sluggish London stock market.
But Labour’s Liam Byrne MP, who sits as chairman on the Business Trade Committee, raised concerns about treatment of workers across Shein’s supply chain, not least the opaque world of subcontracting across Chinese workshops.
Then there is the tax loophole of Shein skipping import duties by sending small parcels directly to customers from Chinese factories. The US is clamping down on this and the EU will soon follow.
The high street is facing increasing rates to keep shops open and our online retailers are suffering, partly due to rising competition from Shein.
It seems ridiculous the Government would throw its arms around a business unfairly hurting British firms.
The loophole needs to be closed before a London listing happens.
Money
Shoppers are running to Home Bargains to grab Christmas-themed gift for £1.99 and it’s perfect for kids’ Xmas Eve Boxes
HOME Bargains shoppers are racing to the store to get their hands on this family-friendly Christmas stocking filler.
For a single coin you could grab this creative collection that will keep the kids entertained for hours.
The Grinchmas Activity Pack includes a colouring book, activity book, write-your-own-story book, stickers and mini coloured pencils.
This bountiful bundle is on the shelves for only £1.99.
With of the activity booklets stating they contain over 30 pages each, it’s difficult to agree with the infamous antihero about hating Christmas.
The deal has has had savvy shoppers taking to social media to share the bargain with friends and posting it on saver pages.
Amongst the comments, one user tagged her friend in the post and wrote: “If you see these can you grab one?”
It’s no wonder because the exact same activity pack is for sale on eBay for £9.50 – nearly five times the price.
Even at notoriously low-priced discount store The Works, activity packs are still marked around a five to ten pounds.
With the price of Fineliners being sold at a whopping £16.50 at Tesco and coloured Sharpies marked at an eye-watering £20 at Argos, if you want to get creative perhaps Home Bargains is your best bet.
For those keen to get in the Grinchmas spirit, the activity pack isn’t the only deal that will make you green with envy.
If you want to set a Christmas day precedent, you can grab a Grinch themed doormat for £2.49 stating “I’m only here for the presents!”
You can also grab a Grinch Gingerbread Mug Hugger for £1.79 to pep up your Christmas latte.
If you’re a Grinch superfan, on the Home Bargain website there is a total of 47 Grinch-themed items ready to fill the stockings for the entire family.
These range from to The Grinch Snuggle cushion to The Grinch Dog Dental Treats
How to save money at Home Bargains
The key to nabbing the best deals at Home Bargains isn’t where to look but when.
If you manage to hit the right timing you can spot deals for as little at 69p.
Keeping an eye on the Home Bargains website will tell which offers are set to drop – like this year’s Halloween specials.
This type of seasonal stock is often offered at a reasonable price but especially afterwards.
Big price drops will happen after big public holidays like Easter and Christmas, so you can bag a bargain at a fraction of the price at these times.
Top tips to nab the best shopping bargains
Finding deals and offers can be tricky if you don’t know where to look.
Here’s a list of hacks you can use to become a bargain-hunting pro and save on your shopping bill:
Join Facebook groups – Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, Latest Deals and Reduce Your Supermarket Spend are all Facebook groups helping you reduce your spending and find good deals
Get following – Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its newsletters to get the latest on any offers
Check hotukdeals – The deal-sharing website lists offers as they’re spotted by savvy shoppers
Use barcode scanners – Retailers such as B&M let shoppers scan the barcodes on its app to see if it’s cheaper than the price listed on the shelf
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