Hinkley Point C: Prioritising the politically sexy over the economically rational is a waste of money July 29, 2016 The new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, which has finally been approved by EDF’s board, will be the most expensive power station anywhere in the world. Beset by delays (first proposed in 2006, it was meant to come online in 2017), it won’t be operational until 2025 and EDF will still receive its enormous £30bn [...]
How Britain can boldly seize the new opportunities created by Brexit in trade and beyond July 28, 2016 After the historic Brexit vote, the UK faces an inflection point, as does the world itself. What Britain does in the next few months and years will have a big impact on the global economy. We may choose to be timid about our future and limit ourselves to a muted conversation with the EU about [...]
Leaving the EU only strengthens the case for expanding both Gatwick and Heathrow July 28, 2016 As MPs prepare to jet off on their summer holidays, there is one big decision that awaits their return: where to build a new runway in London and the South East. This is a decision that has now dragged on beyond all belief. When the Airports Commission published its final report over a year ago, we [...]
Failure to reform refugee laws risks the unravelling of liberal democracy across swathes of Europe July 28, 2016 One of the great paradoxes of this era of globalisation is the narrowing of many Western minds about the world that lies beyond our own culture and values. For sure today’s opinion formers – and indeed the vast majority of our population – are better travelled than ever, but the dominance of US culture and [...]
As it says it’s in a “strong position to withstand uncertainty”, is Lloyds right to be so bullish after Brexit? July 28, 2016 Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, says Yes. It’s not a great time to be a bank, but the sector is in much better shape than it was going into the financial crisis. In particular Lloyds has simplified its structure to focus on key strengths in the UK retail and commercial banking market. There may [...]
City Airport expansion is a boost for London July 28, 2016 Recent political events have thrown any decision on UK airport expansion further into doubt. Even before the referendum and subsequent resignation of David Cameron, it was tough to pin down exactly what the government was minded to do about the pressing need to expand capacity in the south east. Throughout the debate (which looks set [...]
The case for Hinkley Point C has collapsed: It’s time to scrap it July 28, 2016 Assuming its unions have not succeeded in stopping it, the board of EDF is today expected to wave through a decision on Hinkley C, the first new nuclear power station in the UK for 20 years and, at £18bn, the world’s most expensive power station. It’s easy to forget, Hinkley C was the future once. [...]
Charities must think more like business to stay ahead in a tough new environment July 28, 2016 An independent report published this week shows that the Prince’s Trust, the charity of which I am chairman, has returned £1.4bn in social value over the last 10 years. It is a figure of which we are immensely proud. Behind it lies a myriad of human stories. We have helped to transform thousands of young lives, [...]
We can’t trust Remainers to ensure that Brexit really does mean Brexit July 28, 2016 This has, so far, been the year of the underdog: Leicester won the Premiership, Hibernian the Scottish Cup, Portugal the European Football Championship, and the Leave camp the greatest bloodless political coup since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This triumph of democracy has engendered a real sense of optimism and renewal. Unfortunately, things by their [...]
After pledging a wealth tax and an end to austerity, would Owen Smith be just as bad as Jeremy Corbyn? July 28, 2016 Brendan O’Neill, editor of Spiked, says Yes. Corbyn versus Smith is the least inspiring leadership spat in living memory. On one side, a man who looks like he wandered out of the 1970s, a beardy, lefty version of Austin Powers, always saying stuff that’s decades out of date. And on the other, an edge-free technocrat whose [...]