Will David Cameron fail to achieve fundamental reform of Britain’s EU membership terms? June 7, 2015 Brian Monteith, communications director of Global Britain, says Yes. When one considers the term “fundamental”, one might think that it would include leaving the Common Agricultural and Fisheries policies that increase the cost of food to British consumers and deliver poverty to third world countries. Or we might think it would include reducing the UK’s [...]
The US corporate debt market is close to boiling over – and Europe could be next June 4, 2015 How close is the corporate debt market to boiling over? Given the vast volumes of institutional and retail money that have flowed into high yield funds and other leveraged finance vehicles in recent years, it’s a key question for financial markets in both the US and Europe. For the last six years, corporate borrowers have [...]
It’s time for law firms to go public – and end the archaic partnership model June 4, 2015 On Monday, Gateley will become the first UK law firm to list as a public company. It should serve as a wake-up call for the entire industry and more firms should follow suit. For some lawyers, moving away from the partnership model will be terrifying – but it’s an essential evolution, not just for the success [...]
The City has no room for complacency about its global competitiveness June 4, 2015 Nearly 30 years of working in the City has taught me that successful times are the most dangerous times. Warren Buffett, in one of his recent newsletters, described the warning signs that see good times turn to bad as the ABC of business: arrogance, bureaucracy and complacency. Today, there is no room for complacency. The [...]
As the Greek saga continues, can only fiscal integration secure the Eurozone’s future? June 4, 2015 Lydia Prieg, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, says Yes Greater fiscal union is the only sustainable solution for the Eurozone. Without coordinated redistribution, some countries are enjoying artificially low exchange and interest rates. This boosts exports and growth. Other countries have inappropriately high exchange and interest rates, which hinder exports and growth. [...]
David Cameron’s EU renegotiation must free Britain from ever closer union June 3, 2015 As the Prime Minister jets from one European capital to another, seeking support for Britain’s EU reform agenda, the issues on the table are many and varied, ranging from the benefit entitlements of immigrants to the protection of the City of London. But amid all the detail, there is one overriding issue on which the [...]
Three lessons for business from the downfall of Fifa president Sepp Blatter June 3, 2015 There are three things people in business should take away from the downfall of Fifa president Sepp Blatter. First, and most obviously, we crave leaders with integrity – those who are able to do the right things for the organisations they serve, and who have the social awareness to see when their own position becomes [...]
Is the government plan to make failing schools academies the best way to drive up standards? June 3, 2015 Nick Gibb MP, schools minister, says Yes We are helping teachers reverse England’s educational decline by reforming qualifications, improving academic standards and opening new schools. But key to raising standards is ensuring that no children languish in failing schools. Thanks to the academies programme, we have already intervened in more than 1,000 schools. But our [...]
Corruption hits economic growth – and markets can do nothing to stop it June 2, 2015 Sepp Blatter’s resignation as president of Fifa comes after a week of scandal for the global football body. Among soccer fans, sadly, the organisation has become a byword for sleaze. England spent £21m on the campaign to secure the 2018 World Cup. The height of our attempts to influence the delegates seems to have been [...]
Contrarians are vital for a healthy democracy: We must celebrate them June 2, 2015 You're dealing with a lot of silly people in the marketplace; it’s like a great big casino and everyone else is boozing. If you can stick with Pepsi, you should be ok.” Apart from the fact that I prefer Diet Coke, this advice from Warren Buffett, one of the greatest contrarian investors of our time, [...]