After concerns that it is veering left, is Labour in danger of making itself utterly unelectable? July 20, 2015 Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos MORI, says Yes The US writer David Frum wrote: “when a political party offers voters ham and eggs and the voters say, ‘no, thanks’, its first instinct is to say, ‘OK then, how about double ham and double eggs?’” It is early days, but Labour has just suffered an [...]
Europe should rediscover its confidence in battling against China’s protectionism July 19, 2015 “Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing I can do. Because then they will act.” – former GE chief executive Jack Welch Beyond doubt, we are not living through a golden age for Europe. But just as feckless champions of the EU as a superpower have been found intellectually wanting, so [...]
We should be proud of our City – and what it contributes to UK society July 19, 2015 The City has had an action-packed fortnight, stuffed with events that each had a very different focus and a very different meaning. On 7/7, the whole country paused to reflect on the bombings of 2005. Sombre yet inspiring services were held across the UK, including at St Paul’s Cathedral, which provided opportunities to honour those [...]
The HS2 debate is over: It’s time to embrace the benefits July 19, 2015 One of the consequences of this year’s General Election is that HS2, the high-speed line from London to the Midlands and the North, is now almost certain to happen. The immediate challenge for London business is to take advantage of the huge opportunities it provides for regeneration and development in west London, where a new [...]
After it had its best week since 2009, will a stronger pound hit UK economic growth? July 19, 2015 Sam Alderson, an economist at the CEBR, says Yes. While the recent appreciation of sterling is unlikely to derail the UK’s largely domestic and consumption-driven recovery, it will act as a slight brake. But the real negative for the economy is the impact that the continued strength of the pound is having on the composition [...]
Why London must retain its lead as the world’s number one retail destination July 16, 2015 One thing underpins Britain’s economic recovery more than anything else: the resilience and potential of London’s economy. While the capital’s financial sector was first to feel the pain nearly a decade ago, London has also led the UK’s economic fightback – attracting global investment, growing employment and pushing up living standards. We are the world’s [...]
Three reasons why the UK’s jobs recovery is not running out of steam July 16, 2015 What should we make of the surprise increase in unemployment this week? The jobless rate went up and employment fell. The number of unfilled vacancies also dropped slightly. Is this a sign that the UK jobs recovery is running out of steam? I think not, for three reasons. First, the period these unemployment figures cover [...]
HMRC debt recovery powers to raid bank accounts ride roughshod over Magna Carta principles July 16, 2015 Buried in the hefty tome presented to the House of Commons at the Budget last week were these 36 words: “Direct recovery of debts – This government will introduce legislation to modernise and strengthen HMRC’s powers to recover tax and tax credit debts directly from debtors’ bank and building society accounts, including funds held in [...]
As Germany’s Schauble says Grexit may be the best way forward, is the deal designed to fail? July 16, 2015 Desmond Lachman, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, says Yes Wolfgang Schauble is certainly right to suggest that Grexit would be in Greece’s own interest. The economic programme that the Troika imposed on it last weekend is very little different in substance from those policies that have failed so spectacularly in the past. Specifically, [...]
The voters aren’t stupid: David Cameron must hold his In/Out EU referendum now July 15, 2015 Between David Cameron’s election victory and his address at the recent summit in Brussels, the debate in Britain over its place in Europe has sparked into life. Polls suggest more than half the electorate support remaining in the EU. Business leaders’ views are varied, but one thing they all agree on is that prolonged uncertainty [...]