Britain hasn’t lost Arm: Its acquisition is the start of a new Great British tech story July 19, 2016 A week ago, many were wondering whether the UK’s tech sector would become less relevant in a post-Brexit world. The news of Arm’s acquisition by SoftBank for £24bn means many things for UK tech – but irrelevance is not one of them. This acquisition is positive and timely news. Following the referendum, it’s an immediate vote [...]
Sorry, Prime Minister: Legislation won’t end excess in the boardroom July 19, 2016 A key element of our new Prime Minister’s platform is to curb what she perceives to be boardroom excesses. “It is not anti-business to suggest that big business needs to change”, she said. One of her proposals is to allow employee and worker representatives to sit on company boards, a suggestion which has not gone [...]
As the IFS finds pensioners are the big winners post-crisis, has policy protected the old at the expense of the young? July 19, 2016 Ben Southwood, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes. The government is unfairly protecting the old over the young in two main ways. First, by an excessively generous pensions policy that is steadily diverting more and more to already well-off pensioners. And second, by tight planning policy that drives up rents and house [...]
Zeroing in on the competition: This is what Coca-Cola’s new ad campaign tells us about the drinks market July 19, 2016 Coca-Cola's announcement that it is pouring £10m into its newly-branded Zero Sugar variant is proof of two things. First, that the carbonated soft drinks market is alive and well. Second, that it is recognising changing consumer and industry attitudes towards health and sugar. But does this huge investment reveal the big brands are concerned about [...]
Quiz: Who said it? Miliband or Tory? Time to play our new game July 19, 2016 Let's play a game – it’s called Miliband or Tory. We’ll give you a quotation and you have to guess who said it: former Labour leader Ed Miliband or a member of the current Conservative government. Here goes…. [quiz id="33"] Westminster commentators have noticed the stark similarity in rhetoric between Miliband and the new Tory [...]
The Brexit vote should spur business on to ensure everyone has the digital skills to succeed July 19, 2016 Growing up, if I wanted to speak to someone, I would meet them face to face; if I needed to learn something, I would look it up in a book; and when I needed to get somewhere new, I would unfold a map. Back then, I would never have guessed that, one day, all this [...]
An independent Scotland inside the EU would be an economic powerhouse July 18, 2016 Some people seem surprised that Theresa May flew to Edinburgh to parley with Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, only three days after arriving at Number 10. Britain’s new Prime Minister is acutely aware that Scotland voted decisively (62:38) to stay in the EU. Brexit is precisely the “material change of circumstance” cited in the SNP’s recent [...]
Britain has a moral duty to lead the world on free trade July 18, 2016 It really could happen. Republican candidate Donald Trump might win the presidency of the United States on an overtly protectionist, anti-trade ticket. In a recent speech he slammed globalisation, and threatened to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement. In the absence of the leadership of the United States, who will stand for free trade? [...]
Is SoftBank’s Arm Holdings takeover bid a vote of confidence in post-Brexit Britain? July 18, 2016 Helal Miah, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, says Yes. We believe the SoftBank takeover bid should provide investors and the market with a sense of optimism in what is a subdued post-Brexit market. SoftBank has stated that Arm will remain an independent business within its portfolio and, most importantly from a vote of confidence [...]
Arm Holdings is just the start of a great British asset sale July 18, 2016 The UK’s vote to leave the EU was seen by some Brexiteers as a chance to reclaim the country’s borders, draw up a new fortress UK, as well as make a protest vote against the rise in inequality after the financial crisis. But in the investment markets, the drawbridge has already been lowered. Thanks to [...]