Why the City of London will be better off if we leave the European Union May 31, 2016 Too much of the debate about what the European Union referendum means for the City has been frustratingly narrow and short-term, confined to the immediate financial implications of leaving. Far too little attention has been paid to the longer-term health of the City, in particular the implications of remaining inside the EU. Inside the EU, [...]
What the quiet rise of Tooting says about the challenges facing Sadiq Khan as mayor May 31, 2016 As with all great cities, London has many faces. We all know the stereotypes: West London is for old money and new oligarchs, North London is for intellectuals and media luvvies, East London is for hipsters and entrepreneurs, and as for South London, well that’s not actually so clear. West and North have historically been [...]
What is more likely: Britain voting to leave the European Union or Donald Trump becoming US President? May 31, 2016 Ed Bowsher, deputy editor and senior analyst at Share Radio, says Brexit. I said in January in City A.M. that Donald Trump would be the Republican candidate but would not reach the White House, and I still think a Trump victory is very unlikely. Granted, some polls currently put him in the lead, but until now [...]
Immigration should be part of Brexit debate May 27, 2016 Back in the early days of the referendum, when (on the pro-Brexit side, at least) different factions were vying for the official designation, we heard a lot about the different tone of the contenders. One group, Leave.EU, was said to be associated more with UKIP and, therefore, would represent a campaign based more on the [...]
Forward misguidance: Unreliable central banks are fuelling market volatility May 27, 2016 At the bottom of every financial prediction or statement, often buried under mountains of small print, is a warning that past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. This is true whether we look at stock markets, investment funds or central banks. Since 2013, however, some of the world’s largest financial institutions have been [...]
Privatising the Land Registry sounds like a great idea – but this is why it’s not May 27, 2016 It not uncommon to read about government policy decisions and count yourself lucky that you’re not the one making them. But when it comes to the current debate over whether to privatise the Land Registry, while a good idea on the surface, rejecting this proposal should be a no-brainer. It may not be a conundrum on [...]
Near record net migration isn’t an argument for leaving the EU – it’s something to celebrate May 27, 2016 Freedom is usually a positive concept. Freedoms are celebrated and defended. Through history, people have fought and died for their freedoms, be it freedom of speech, of association, of assembly, of thought. How to explain, then, the noxious negativity that is permeating debate on freedom of movement in the context of the EU referendum? The [...]
With HS2 dubbed over-priced by experts, does Britain have a problem with big infrastructure projects? May 27, 2016 Dr Robin Hickman, reader in transport planning and the city at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, says Yes. Large-scale infrastructure projects involve substantial economic, environmental and social impact – affecting present and future generations. Projects can cost billions and affect people and the environment in many different ways. We have a problem in [...]
M&S needed a roar from Rowe, but all it got was a whisper May 26, 2016 It was Steve Rowe's opportunity to deliver something big. Analysts had forecast it, and, most importantly of all, M&S' customers were expecting it. But the man from Croydon adopted the softly-softly approach that you might expect of a lifer rather than the more radical path that newcomers tend to take. There was no Dave Lewis-style [...]
Should we blame empty foreign-owned apartments for London’s housing crisis? The data says no May 26, 2016 London's housing crisis is worsened, maybe even caused, by wealthy foreigners buying up properties and leaving them empty. Right? It’s an attractive argument, identifying a specific and unpopular culprit (the global rich) while spreading the notion that they are to blame for most of today’s social and economic problems. Unfortunately, in this case, the figures [...]