The devolution genie is out of the bottle – and London must not be forgotten September 18, 2014 WHEN the UK government ruled out devo-max on the Scottish referendum ballot, few decried it as the strategic mistake it later turned out to be. Forced into an unexpected corner by a surge in nationalist support, the leaders of the three main UK parties promised Scotland the earth, magically transforming the No box into a [...]
Investors should pause before gambling on the Alibaba flotation frenzy September 18, 2014 THE IPO of China’s largest e-commerce platform Alibaba has drawn frenzied interest from investors worldwide, with the company expected to raise at least $21bn on the New York Stock Exchange. But the listing has also prompted serious questions about the firm’s governance structure. Alibaba is, of course, a very successful business and investors have been [...]
Is News Corp right that Google’s internet dominance is damaging? September 18, 2014 Carl Miller, research director at the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, says Yes. Google: Gmail, Chrome, Google+, Search, all free. It gives us a suite of brilliantly useful products that almost all of us use daily. What’s not to like? That’s the problem. Day-to-day, everything is convenient and free. We treat [...]
Little Britain: The UK will never punch above its weight again if the Scots vote to leave September 17, 2014 I ONLY lost it once on 9/11. It was some time after the third plane hit the Pentagon that early September morning. Working flat out at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, I was dimly aware the phone was ringing incessantly, as my staff went on with the important job of working out who was [...]
The Montreal effect: Why the referendum could mark the end of Scottish finance September 17, 2014 As the history of the 2014 independence referendum is written, it may come to be seen as a turning point for financial services in Scotland. The lion’s share of its financial sector has warned that it has contingency plans in place to relocate to England in the event of a Yes vote. This follows a [...]
Cameron made a monumental blunder by denying Scotland the choice of devo-super-max on the ballot September 17, 2014 In denying the Scots the option of devo-max on the ballot paper today, David Cameron made arguably the most monumental mistake of any recent premiership. And whatever the result of the referendum, that mistake cannot be undone. There is a clear economic justification for a union between two countries, in that it allows for the [...]
How to develop a personal brand September 17, 2014 You may see having a “personal brand” as a self-congratulating ego-fuelled idea used only by D-list celebrities and wannabes. However a strong brand can help you get ahead in today’s competitive jobs market. Think of it as a process to build and enhance your reputation. Here are some tips on how to develop [...]
London Fashion Week: Could London emerge as a global hub for wearable tech? September 17, 2014 At London Fashion Week, the merging of fashion and tech has been more palpable than ever before and, with top fashion designers now embracing the trend, wearable technology looks set to finally achieve mainstream success. The tech giants of California and East Asia have of course been playing a dominant role in developing wearables [...]
Scottish independence: Win or lose, Cameron is in for a rocky ride – View From Westminster September 16, 2014 David Cameron probably feels a bit like Noah at the moment, preparing for a great flood to come barrelling towards his ark, hoping the seals hold and praying there aren’t any leaks. But of course as any good DIY-er knows, there’s always a leak. And it’s usually in the place you least expect. The Prime [...]
As CPI inflation falls to 1.5 per cent, should the Bank hold off rate hikes until next summer? September 16, 2014 Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, says Yes. Quite possibly. The case for rates to stay low for longer is being aided by several factors. Global oil and commodity prices are low, and likely to stay historically weak due to subdued global demand (especially in key emerging markets such as China) and, in the case [...]