Clinton good, Trump bad: Market reaction to changing odds is too simplistic November 7, 2016 Thank goodness Britain is a nation of geniuses (or should that be genii?). Not even six months after the UK got to grips with the minutiae of EU rule-making and its enormous, surreptitiously dastardly implications for our country, we have all suddenly become experts in British Constitutional Law. We have had a lot of assistance [...]
The Brexit vote has revealed Jeremy Corbyn’s irrelevance November 7, 2016 The weekend brought a deluge of reaction to Thursday’s High Court ruling on Article 50. Everyone from renowned legal experts to armchair constitutionalists weighed in on what the ruling meant for Theresa May and whether the judges had made the right call. Under normal circumstances, the voice of the Leader of the Opposition would be prominent [...]
Donald Trump is poison for America, Hillary Clinton is poison for the world November 7, 2016 A particularly low point in French politics was reached in 2002, when the electorate was left to choose their President from between the louche, conniving, incumbent Jacques Chirac, and the beyond-the-pale Jean-Marie Le Pen. The French people, without any joy but mindful that the credibility of the Fifth Republic was on the line, opted for [...]
Britain needs a transitional deal to avoid a cliff-edge of Brexit uncertainty November 7, 2016 Just under two weeks ago, Theresa May announced the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, following years of analysis and debate. The decision was a complex one and certainly one of the PM’s toughest since taking up office in July. This, though, is dwarfed by another issue which had dominated the news agenda even [...]
Britain must raise its game on innovation to make a success of Brexit November 7, 2016 The UK economy has so far proved hardy in the face of the vote to leave the EU. While GDP growth has slowed, it’s been higher than many had expected – consumers continue to spend on the high street and exporters have been taking advantage of a weaker sterling. But uncertain times are still ahead [...]
As the election campaign draws to a close, has it fundamentally damaged America’s moral standing? November 7, 2016 Brian Klaas, a fellow in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, and author of The Despot’s Accomplice, says Yes. Whether Donald Trump wins or loses tomorrow, he has already done tremendous damage to America’s moral standing in the world, and its ability to promote Western liberal democracy globally. His sexist, racist, and xenophobic rhetoric [...]
Editor’s notes: Think Brexit voters were just angry? Think again. November 4, 2016 The hot topic of the day is the process of Brexit. With the High Court ruling in favour of those who claimed that the government lacks the constitutional authority to trigger Article 50 without parliamentary approval, it’s an absolute field day for legal commentators and armchair constitutionalists. Those who cry that the judgement represents “a [...]
Oil boss needs buyers to Shell out for assets November 4, 2016 A brave face. That's the best way to describe this week's trading updates from Britain's two oil behemoths. It’s now a familiar visage for BP's Bob Dudley and Shell's Ben van Beurden. Oil prices continue to hover stubbornly below $50-a-barrel, raising justifiable concerns about the companies’ ability to cover their dividends without substantial further cuts [...]
The referendum is over: Let’s act like it is November 4, 2016 Brexit is about to be betrayed. Wealthy financiers have coopted unelected judges into a war on democracy, seeking to undermine the will of the people by fair means or foul. Yesterday’s High Court ruling that Parliament must decide on the triggering of Article 50 is an insult to the 17.4m who voted for Brexit, and [...]
There are silver linings to this depressing presidential election – whether Trump or Clinton wins November 3, 2016 After a gruelling year of primaries, scandals, attack ads, FBI investigations, and breaking news day-in and day-out, Americans are only four days away from choosing their next President. Now, more than ever, we all need a dose of optimism. I’m aware that feeling doesn’t come easy right now. Over the course of this election season, [...]