Heathrow expansion: Failure to act will kill the government’s Chinese trade ambitions dead October 27, 2015 During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the UK last week, our government made a flurry of announcements about Chinese investment in infrastructure. From HS2 to nuclear power stations, the Chinese would help modernise the backbone of our economy. So far so good. Notably absent, however, was any mention of aviation. Airport expansion is essential [...]
After UK economic growth slowed to 0.5 per cent in the third quarter, should we be worried? October 27, 2015 Tim Price, manager of the VT Price Value Portfolio, says Yes Not only is growth slowing, but a growing number of companies in the Anglo Saxon economies are issuing profits warnings. Recent “victims” include Adobe, Pearson, Caterpillar, William Hill, and the retailers Walmart and Home Retail Group. The list of casualties is broad and varied [...]
Sadiq Khan shows Jeremy Corbyn how to reach out to business October 27, 2015 On a national level, Labour’s relationship with the business community is under serious strain. The party’s plans for nationalisations, interventions and higher taxes has left many of the country’s employers and wealth creators wondering what ever happened to those on the left who recognised the benefits of a thriving private sector economy. Fortunately, hope is [...]
A guaranteed minimum income is not a welfare reform silver bullet October 26, 2015 There is a growing recognition that current social welfare programmes are inadequate at best and counterproductive at worst. The debt and taxes needed to finance these programmes continues to rise, yet far too many people remain trapped in poverty. As a result, there is a growing search for alternatives. One idea drawing renewed interest [...]
EU referendum polls: Eurosceptics’ unholy alliance with the anti-EU hard left – your enemy’s enemy isn’t your friend October 26, 2015 With the Prime Minister apparently arranging panicked meetings of special advisers to aid the floundering Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, the UK’s EU referendum debate is effectively underway. Polls appear to show Brexiteers on the march. With the EU stumbling from one crisis to the next, and the poverty of positive messages emanating from Europhiles, [...]
Cyber security talent shortage: Business is struggling to keep up with sophisticated criminals October 26, 2015 Concerns about cyber security are growing in prominence, but companies and law enforcement agencies are still playing catch-up in their attempts to counter ever more sophisticated cyber criminals. While the cyber attacks on TalkTalk and Ashley Madison have made headlines around the world, the day-to-day business of protecting a company against attack goes largely unnoticed. [...]
As it receives a mauling in the House of Lords, will tax credit cuts be this government’s poll tax? October 26, 2015 Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, says Yes The Conservative Party’s cuts to tax credits are as misguided as their attempts to bring in the poll tax. This is effectively a tax rise targeted towards millions of the lowest paid people in our country. And remember, these people are doing the right thing – [...]
TalkTalk cyber attack: Give her some credit, Dido Harding is facing the music October 26, 2015 There are many questions to be asked of TalkTalk, after the company admitted last week that it had been the target of a serious hacking. We live in a time during which online financial activity – whether it’s transferring cash to your friends, gambling on the football, or paying your phone bill – is considered [...]
George Osborne has backed the wrong Asian emerging market horse October 25, 2015 Give him his due; George Osborne is a clever man. He has rightly seen that a becalmed EU will not provide the UK with exciting new macroeconomic avenues for growth – for that he must look eastwards. This brainwave amounts to a massive macroeconomic and geostrategic shift for Britain, and is entirely in line with [...]
Access to faster broadband is crucial for the City to remain competitive globally October 25, 2015 The word “wayleave” might not necessarily mean very much to most readers. But this legal agreement permits the installation of broadband – an essential for any company – so that it can reach the offices and businesses that need it. As things stand, each connection requires a new agreement, and SME tenants, of which [...]