A new Centre for Music would be a fantastic addition to the City’s strong cultural offering December 20, 2015 What makes a global city an attractive place in which to work and live? A buoyant economy, quick transport links, good housing, low crime rates, excellent education, and easy access to healthcare are always cited as key factors. But to that we should also add the cultural offer, and last week London upped its game [...]
We must embrace tall buildings if we’re to build the homes we need and protect the greenbelt December 20, 2015 Ask Londoners what needs to be done to build the homes and work space required for the capital’s future, and you’ll get a range of different answers. Make use of empty houses and identify brownfield sites owned by public bodies are two of the most popular. Everyone has a view, and quite rightly so, [...]
After a turbulent year for equity markets, where will the FTSE 100 end up by the end of 2016? December 20, 2015 Nick Peters is portfolio manager at Fidelity Solutions, says Yes Overall, one can paint a relatively supportive economic picture for the UK. Wage growth is now outstripping inflation and is likely to continue doing so, given low levels of unemployment. This should help to support consumer demand, though this is admittedly more important for the [...]
Voters should resist the allure of fringe parties December 18, 2015 Fringe parties have come to prominence in recent years, often threatening – or completely overturning – two-party systems. Much of this year’s Greek drama stemmed from the political standoff between the country’s lenders and a Syriza party that pledged to defy unpopular bailout conditions. While Syriza may have eventually backed down, its rise (and the collapse in [...]
It’s time for radical solutions to address London’s housing crisis December 17, 2015 As MP since 2001 for the most central London constituency, I cannot recall a time when housing issues have not dominated my postbag. No surprise, perhaps, when UK buyers compete for a limited supply of homes with a global citizenry seeking its own slice of prime London. But I have also witnessed how the polarisation [...]
How to dramatically reduce the flow of refugees to Europe – at a minimal cost December 17, 2015 It's now very clear there is no way that Europe is able to accommodate the huge numbers of refugees attempting to enter. Let’s be realistic: most people are fleeing not because they want freedom and democracy, but to ensure the safety and future of themselves and their families. The only way to deal with the [...]
Forward guidance was not the appropriate policy for the Fed – but Janet Yellen pulled it off December 17, 2015 Over the last few months, Fed chair Janet Yellen has led a train of Federal System governors in guiding financial market expectations towards an interest rate “lift-off” at the central bank’s December meeting. This week, more than six years into an economic recovery, it finally happened – but how successful has forward guidance been? [...]
Q: As Jean-Claude Juncker says the EU wants a fair deal for Britain, does it have more to lose from Brexit than the UK does? December 17, 2015 Daniel Hannan is a Conservative MEP for South East England. He blogs at www.hannan.co.uk, says Yes David Cameron began by promising to opt out of social policy and employment law, disapply the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, repatriate control of criminal justice, and curb the power of the European Court. All such talk has been [...]
Osborne must deliver on challenger pledge December 17, 2015 Two years ago, chancellor George Osborne said that the British banking system was verging on oligopoly – and needed a “reset”. “One of the prices we are paying for the financial crisis is that our banking sector is now dominated by a few big banks,” he said. “I want new faces on the high street. [...]
Why everything you think you know about diversity is wrong December 17, 2015 Since TED launched 25 years ago, over 1bn people have listened to their talks and behavioural science has become mainstream. Blink, Influence, Slow, Nudge, Quiet, Switch, Drive, and even some books with more than one syllable titles have become international bestsellers. We’re all psychologists now. Except in the boardroom. What corporate bosses might have gleaned [...]