Forget cutting tuition fees – student finance needs a complete overhaul February 23, 2015 In an age of big challenges, the general election campaign seems to be throwing up a host of small ideas. The Labour Party is currently quibbling internally over how to finance a policy of cutting the cap on regulated tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000, for example. It’s unclear what problem this purports to solve. [...]
Britain’s legal sector is leading the world: It’s time we celebrated it February 23, 2015 This week, more than 2,000 delegates – lawyers, business leaders and ministers from around the world – are descending on London for the UK’s first Global Law Summit. Two years in the planning, its genesis lies in the government’s desire to promote the UK’s international standing in legal services in an increasingly competitive world-wide market. [...]
Following the latest cash for access allegations, should MPs be prohibited from outside work? February 23, 2015 Angela Eagle MP is shadow leader of the House of Commons, says Yes Voters rightly expect their MP to be representing them full-time – not earning thousands of pounds of extra money on the side. We must draw a line under these lobbying scandals, which do so much to undermine public trust in politics. That’s [...]
The five sins of the Greek crisis that could doom Europe to irrelevance February 22, 2015 There is nothing so dangerous in foreign affairs as being half right. All along, this has been the primary reason I have been far more sceptical about a happy ending to the present euro crisis than conventional wisdom allows for. Both the Greek and German protagonists think they are entirely morally correct. Such an absolutist [...]
UK mid-market has overtaken Germany’s Mittelstand – but we can do better February 22, 2015 Angel investor and entrepreneur Sherry Coutu CBE recently said that “competitive advantage doesn’t go to the nations that focus on creating companies, it goes to nations that focus on scaling companies.” And scaling up, growing, and exporting abroad are all challenges particularly faced by the UK’s mid-market (businesses with a typical turnover of between £10m [...]
From Burma to the City, trust and accountability are essential for growth February 22, 2015 I returned this past weekend from one of my most exciting overseas business trips so far, visiting the burgeoning international markets of the Philippines, Burma and Thailand. Although these countries in South East Asia are all at different stages when we talk about the size, growth and focus of their economies, the common factor is [...]
Will a UK economic boomlet help swing the coming election for the Conservative Party? February 22, 2015 Howard Archer, chief European and UK economist at IHS Global Insight, says Yes. While the latest economic developments may not be enough in themselves to swing the election for the Conservatives, they should sway some voters at the polling booths. The Tories can support their case that they are the best party to run the [...]
How the dark arts of advertising are shaping the UK’s election campaign February 19, 2015 You have been warned (Source: Conservatives, Facebook) “Your worst nightmare just got worse,” warns the headline on one of the latest Conservative Party election posters, painting a picture of Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond united in guffawing victory on the steps of Number 10. A Labour/SNP coalition would mean “chaos” for the UK, say the [...]
MPs are dangerously blurring the line between tax avoidance and evasion February 19, 2015 Never before has tax avoidance – legally arranging your affairs to lower your tax liability, as distinct from the illegal practice of tax evasion – been used as a political weapon in such a high profile way. In the last week, we’ve had it all: smears, claims and counter-claims, and Ed Balls, the man who [...]
Forget Greek misery: Why Europe is turning a corner thanks to structural reform February 19, 2015 AN OBSERVER coming to study “Europe” with fresh eyes and an open mind might well conclude that there is only one game in town: the ongoing negotiations between Athens, Brussels and Berlin over the Greek bailout. Clearly, the outcome is vitally important for the people of Greece, the Greek government’s credibility, and that of the [...]