Tesco Bank’s perception goes into the red after security breach November 16, 2016 Last week, news broke of a security breach which compromised the accounts of Tesco Bank customers. It was reported that £2.5m had been stolen from 9,000 customer accounts, with the worst affected losing up to £1,500. In the immediate aftermath, the company suspended online and contactless transactions. YouGov brand tracking data shows us how the [...]
Trump does not mean the end of liberalism November 16, 2016 We are told the fifth stage of grief (following denial, anger, bargaining, and depression) is acceptance, and for some people in the US and beyond who this time last week found themselves aggrieved by the outcome of the presidential election, the journey to this final step has been swift. “Trumpism could be a solution to the [...]
As a businessman, Donald Trump knows that success requires compromise: Brexiteers should take note November 15, 2016 With the election of Donald Trump to the White House, we have now experienced political earthquakes on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr Trump’s triumph and the UK’s Brexit vote, both fuelled by public anger, confirm we have moved into a new and much more uncertain political era. Millions of words have already been written [...]
Dump opinion polls for social media to understand people’s real preferences November 15, 2016 So the pollsters and pundits got it wrong again. After the General Election last year and then Brexit, it is perhaps not surprising. What is surprising is just how wrong they were. The real problem is the enormous confidence with which they pronounced that Hillary Clinton would win. The Princeton Election Consortium was probably top of [...]
Unfair business rate hikes will hit London’s competitiveness: Government must now act November 15, 2016 London is, without a doubt, a fantastic city in which to live, do business and visit – an epicentre of world-leading business, culture, entertainment and retail. Anyone walking along our iconic streets, from Bond Street to Brick Lane, cannot help but be struck by its unique mix of architecture and people. But we are also [...]
With a leaked memo suggesting the government has no Brexit plan, should it delay invoking Article 50? November 15, 2016 Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat by-election candidate for Richmond Park, says Yes. Yesterday’s leaked Brexit memo made it clear why Theresa May won’t tell us her plan for Brexit; because she doesn’t have one. Her government is failing to come up with clear answers on the most important issues, including Britain’s membership of the Single Market. [...]
Do schmaltzy Christmas ads cheer up revenues? November 15, 2016 What do a robin, a boxer dog, a cartoon character called Dave and Mrs Santa Claus have in common? It may sound like the start of a bad joke but this motley crew all have starring roles in 2016's Christmas adverts for major retailers. So far, the M&S ad appears to be the biggest hit [...]
Britain needs a culture shift if it’s going to lead the world on free trade November 15, 2016 In her most pro-business speech since she came to power, Theresa May last night made a grown-up argument for Britain to promote free trade. This is excellent. But as the Prime Minister knows, it will take a lot more than pro-trade rhetoric to make things happen. Britain will have to take concrete steps at home and [...]
People don’t trust their banks – but capital assurance could change this November 15, 2016 People still don’t trust banks. Post-crisis reforms aimed at improving their reporting, conduct and culture, while increasing resilience, are all now well into their implementation phases. But past scandals, whether to do with mis-selling or improper behaviour, are still affecting banks’ profits, with large fines and even bigger customer settlements. And public perceptions continue to [...]
The Trump-Hammond-Keynesian consensus is wrong: Higher infrastructure spending does not equal greater growth November 14, 2016 To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Or when it comes to the UK economy: to an economist who believed in fiscal stimulus in 2011, every period of time looks like an opportunity for more government spending. In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory last week, even his most vociferous left-leaning economic critics [...]