April 1, 2010
 
April Fool's Day Joke? Brits to Place Tax on Misuse of English Language
 
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
 
Editor's note: This sounds like an April Fool's Day joke to me. Embargoed until today (English style is is 1 April 2010, rather than our customary April 1)
 
The United Kingdom Home Office has proposed a new ‘English Language Tax’ aimed at tourists and foreign workers, with the intention of raising £4.5 billion during the scheme’s first 12 months.
 
A Home Office spokesman explained: ”An electronic chip will be issued at passport control and fitted to all incoming non-UK visitors. The chip will monitor any misuse of the English Language and a small tax will be levied on each mispronounced word.”
 
An exclusive interview about the new scheme with Jennifer Selhurst, Home Office Minister for Social Cohesion, can be viewed here:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHxlL7T00P8
 
The video was produced by Frame on Frame TV. For further information, or reproduction requests, please contact:
 
Trevor Hughes
Frame On Frame TV
0044 (0)208 563 1676
0044 (0)79106 55374
trevorhughes@frameonframe.co.uk