Are David Cameron’s new anti-terror measures necessary to protect the UK? September 1, 2014 Hannah Stuart, research fellow at The Henry Jackson Society, says Yes. The government is calling for increased powers to tackle the threat posed by returning fighters from Syria and northern Iraq. With a steady stream of people still leaving for Syria, and an estimated 250 already back on our streets, it’s clear that current preventative [...]
Nato can save us from Putin – but only if Europe gets serious about its military August 31, 2014 For my sins, early in my Washington career I was sent to literally scores of high-level North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) meetings, frustratingly all on the same beside-the-point topic. Stripped of its finery, basically every conclave revolved around finding another mission for the most successful politico-military alliance in the history of the world, now that [...]
Bank regulators need to get more realistic if we are to avoid a new crisis – City Matters August 31, 2014 The idea of a “Europe without banks” became popular after the financial crisis, when bankers were demonised and punitive regulations proposed. Six years on, the repercussions still resonate deeply, as I found at the recent Alpbach Financial Markets Symposium, where the high Austrian location gives an added sense of perspective to Europe’s issues. Of course, [...]
What will the US do about tax inversion? August 31, 2014 Burger King drew the ire of many Americans this past week by announcing a plan to move their corporate headquarters to Canada from the United States after purchasing the Canadian doughnut chain Tim Hortons. In doing so, Burger King stands to save at least $8.1m a year in taxes. The company remains adamant that Uncle [...]
Nick Clegg almost gets it right on drug policy August 31, 2014 Earlier this month, speaking to The Sun newspaper, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg made a bold statement on Britain's drug policy: "At the moment, we are doing an utterly senseless thing — chucking the people who need treatment behind bars so they simply become even more vulnerable to the criminal gangs who exploited them in [...]
How to give a compelling speech and not just make noise August 29, 2014 Have you ever walked away from a big speech or a presentation feeling puzzled? Lots of things were said, lots of words were used, a number of points were covered, and you were there for over an hour – yet you can’t remember a thing that was said. Too often speakers and presenters fail to [...]
In pursuit of premium – City & Gild August 29, 2014 As brand consultants, our singular task when all other non-constants shift like the sands – taxation, distribution, clients, EBITDA target – is to unearth that golden nugget of truth from which a body of rich and juicy “reasons to believe” can be crafted. These can in turn inspire and inform the essence of the brand; [...]
Douglas Carswell Ukip defection is a wake up call but not a nightmare for Cameron – The Word From Westminster August 28, 2014 He knew the day would come, but David Cameron will most likely wake to an uneasy calm this morning, rather than the pit-of-the-stomach sense of impending doom he probably expected. Because while Douglas Carswell’s defection to Ukip from the Conservatives dominates the headlines, the Prime Minister’s party seemed to be united behind him as well [...]
Amazon’s Twitch purchase heralds a new age of creative consumption August 28, 2014 It's enough to make an accountant develop a nervous one. This week Amazon snapped up Twitch, a video platform and community for computer gamers, paying the princely sum of $970m (£585m) in cash. That’s a lot of money for something many people have never heard of – more than three times the amount Amazon spent [...]
Confessions of a working mum: Kids back at school and all my troubles begin August 28, 2014 Back to school. Three little words that excite all squabble-weary parents at this time of year. For me, the relief is accompanied by a kind of dread at the thought of re-entering the world of timetables, permission slips and after-school clubs. For those of us who favour a free-wheeling approach to parenting, school life only [...]