The lyrics penned in 1963 and released in 1964 by the legendary musician, Bob Dylan, is a timeless song about the inevitability of social, political and generational change.
It poetically warns that old systems and traditional ways of thinking are being replaced by new ones during changing times. It urges people to adapt to this shift or risk being left behind. In modern times, does this sound familiar? No doubt, while reading this article, the tune will be ringing in your ears. Some of you may even do a Google “full lyrics to the times they are a changin’ by Boy Dylan”. Or mention it to Chris at Low Port Music as you pop in for a proper music fix.
A High Street Who Are Ya?
“Who are ya?” is a popular, ironic UK football chant dating back to the 1990s, used to taunt opposite fans or players by implying they were insignificant, unknown or undeserving of being there.
In the modern-day UK, those amongst us registered as self-employed or as a director of a UK Limited company are very much aware of the UK Government increasingly asking us to determine “who are ya” through the UK.gov ‘One Login’ linked to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Furthermore, registering your identity on Companies House involving biometric identification with your passport or driving licence is also forcing hundreds of 1000’s of UK citizens to go through the process. This is all fine and dandy if you drive or have a passport, but for those who do not, it makes starting a business much more difficult.
Why? Because you can’t open a bank account until you can prove your identity has been verified by the UK Government. And in the digital age with much less cash as a medium of exchange, a business can’t be run without a bank account.
And even in an e-commerce driven world, that many small businesses cannot survive without, the big tech platforms are also doing the checks to run an account on their selling platforms.
Introducing Geoff
Picture the vision during these changing times of a head-shaven man parading along Linlithgow High Street. Let’s call him ‘Geoff’, who runs a successful global selling platform. The vision of him shouting ‘who are ya?’ to the local retailers sounds chaotic at best. However, it is a reality for independent traders who can get “suspended” from his platform, to coin another football analogy. This is because their UK issued driving licence was sufficient evidence to prove they are British.
This is a reality for many thousands of business owners across the UK, including many you know and engage with in your local High Street. These owners are the lifeblood of the UK economy and your High Street.
Additionally, they are from many generations who grew up with Dylan, Springsteen and more recently Billy Eilish. Have diverse cultural, religious and ethnical backgrounds of established businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups. They all work hard together to make our High Street what it is today.
Furthermore, they play by the rules. Pay also rent to their landlord; Rates to the Local Authority; Tax to HMRC; Levy to their BID; Living wages to their staff. They work weekends and bank holidays. They support local charities, sponsor local clubs. The list is endless, just for the privilege of trying to earn a living. However, all is not well on our High Streets as the national news will suggest.
Changing Times on UK High Streets
You may have seen the national BBC news and iPlayer at the end of April, that featured our beloved High Streets being taken
over by organised criminals. According to professional body the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), organised crime on High Streets has steadily increased over the past decade.
“It’s not like that in Linlithgow”.
However, research by the CTSI and Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) found Alloa was the third-biggest hotspot in
Scotland, behind only the two largest cities. Alloa is just a short 30-minute (18 miles) drive away from Linlithgow.
Is there anything that can be done to prevent this kind of development occurring on High Streets, where there is
not an issue?
Does the research show that the organised criminal gangs own the premises where the crimes take place?
Are all shop traders registered with a ‘One Login’ at HMRC and do they have their identities been verified at Companies House?
Do commercial landlords have a role to play in undertaking more ‘due diligence’ about who they are leasing to?
Should Local Authorities have a say about the number and type of shops offering specific types of goods on the High Street?
Should the ‘over provision’ rule that is applied to the sale of alcohol be expanded to other types of substance?
Basically, there are So many questions during these changing times.
“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall”
Changing Times article published by One Linlithgow in Issue 122, May 2026 of the Black Bitch Community Magazine for Linlithgow. One Linlithgow Business Improvement District.
