Blink and you missed it but the “British Isa” announced by our former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in his last budget will be shunned by our new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in her autumn statement next month. Even so, investors don’t need a tax shelter to identify value.

Buying low is often — but not always — the first step towards making a profit, so investors should consider British businesses that are priced in the bargain basement. While the American Standard & Poor’s 500 index has risen 20 per cent this year, Britain’s FTSE 100 benchmark has advanced less than 7 per cent.

Sad to say, there are several sterling laggards lurking in my “forever fund”, from blue chip giants to corporate tiddlers. Undaunted, I continue