Britain lost faith in its politicians – and then it voted for Brexit February 27, 2019 What do Bill Clinton, the Beano, and moat cleaning have in common? Answer: they all contributed to Brexit. We are about to reach the tenth anniversary of the MPs’ expenses scandal, the fifteenth anniversary of the launch of the TaxPayers’ Alliance (which I co-founded in 2004), and in 30 days’ time we should be leaving [...]
It makes smart business sense to invest in the future of refugees February 27, 2019 Amid scenes of refugees’ flight from Venezuela, it is easy to forget that the world’s largest refugee crisis remains Syria. And that’s why the UK-Jordan Conference in London tomorrow is so important. Jordan has generously provided refuge for more than 670,000 Syrian refugees fleeing their homes amid a brutal war. Its role in the stability [...]
DEBATE: Is Labour’s sudden support for second referendum a good political move? February 27, 2019 Is Labour’s sudden support for second referendum a good political move? Finn McRedmond, staff writer at Reaction, says YES. It is no secret that Jeremy Corbyn is a longstanding eurosceptic. It is also no secret that vast swathes of Labour’s support base are Remainers. So the challenge facing the Labour leadership is this: how do we [...]
If we’re going to get serious climate action, we need to talk honestly about the economic costs February 27, 2019 Sydney University’s Centre for Complex Systems does innovative work on a broad range of topics. But spending the last couple of weeks there has also given me a wider perspective on some familiar themes. Climate change is, quite literally, a hot topic in Australian politics. The country melted in 45-degree record temperatures in January, and [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Victory could be a Gamechanger for frustrated Moreira February 26, 2019 JOAO Moreira is having a tough time at present. The former two-time champion jockey was forced to sit out the last two race-meetings through suspension and then watched his great rival Zac Purton notch up nine winners, including three for his retained John Size stable. With a further two enforced holidays coming up on the [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Play it Wise and back Zac to keep hot streak going February 26, 2019 REIGNING champion jockey Zac Purton is the name that will be on everyone’s lips when Happy Valley hosts its regular Wednesday meeting in Hong Kong. It wasn’t long ago that Joao Moreira was the darling of the fanatical racing fans in the territory. The Magic Man could do no wrong and was likened to a [...]
DEBATE: With the Oscars success of Roma, has Netflix broken the dominance of the traditional film studios? February 26, 2019 With the Oscars success of Roma, has Netflix broken the dominance of the traditional film studios? Abbie Llewelyn, freelance writer and commentator, says YES. Just six years after Netflix started producing original content, it has scored 15 nominations and three wins at the Oscars. This is a huge breakthrough for streaming platforms, as up until [...]
Female founders don’t need to be ‘bolshie’ to match the boys February 26, 2019 Earlier this month, chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss wrote in City A.M. concerning the lack of funding for all-female startups. As she pointed out, 90 per cent of venture capital funding goes to firms with all-male teams, compared to just one per cent for all-female teams. In her article, Truss proposed a number [...]
There’s no time to spare, Brexit is causing real-world problems for business today February 26, 2019 Another day, another delay. With just 31 days ahead of the UK’s scheduled departure from the EU, Westminster still seems to be arguing with itself. The timetable may work for politics, but it doesn’t work for the economy. Out in the real world, the consequences of uncertainty and the prospect of a messy and disorderly [...]
Theresa May keeps delaying the Brexit vote, but the clock is ticking for business to prepare for a no-deal outcome February 25, 2019 On her way to an EU-Arab League summit over the weekend, Theresa May announced that she would not provide British parliamentarians with a meaningful vote on an altered Brexit deal until perhaps 12 March. Politicians wanted that opportunity this week, but instead, the embattled leader has once again sought to delay proceedings as she struggles [...]