Britain’s mortgage prisoners must act now or face financial meltdown May 22, 2014 IT’s BEEN a busy week in the world of monetary policy. On Sunday, Mark Carney said that rising house prices pose the biggest threat to economic recovery. On Tuesday, the official statistics told us what we already knew – that house prices in London are soaring, by 17 per cent year-on-year. Some homeowners are finding [...]
Socrates and the euro elections: A democratic dialogue May 22, 2014 SCENE: A LONDON BACK STREET… SOCRATES: Hey, you there, why are you tearing up those placards? ANGRY VOTER: It’s over, the racists have won. It’s a black day for democracy. SOCRATES: Ah, you’ve been taking part in the recent election. I’m an immigrant from a fellow democracy myself, so I’m fascinated to understand your system [...]
China is the real victor as Putin looks East May 22, 2014 WHEN President Vladimir Putin voyaged to Beijing this week, it was with one thing in mind: strengthening Sino-Russian relations. The signing of a $400bn (£237bn) gas pipeline deal with Beijing formed the centrepiece of this effort. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is pushing the US and Europe away, and Putin is looking to reorient towards an [...]
Letters to the Editor – 22/05 – The UK and Europe, Best of Twitter May 21, 2014 The UK and Europe [Re: Voters in the UK and Europe are in the mood for change, yesterday] I don’t understand Stephan Shakespeare’s conclusion that Euro voters are “united by a desire to stay in Europe”. That is not what his graphs say. On reform, UK, Germany, France and Sweden pass 70 per cent recognising need for significant [...]
An anti-capitalist European Parliament: The real threat to UK business May 21, 2014 NOT LONG ago, the government’s mantra was that the Eurozone crisis was having “a chilling effect” on the UK economy. Britain’s dependence on its trading links with the euro area, combined with the plunging fiscal and economic fortunes of certain member states, put in doubt the prospects for our own export-led recovery. Fast forward three [...]
The UK housing market needs Help to Supply – not Help to Buy May 21, 2014 THE UK housing market needs Help to Supply, not Help to Buy. The government’s housing scheme has helped first-time buyers get a leg-up onto the property ladder, but that privilege has come at a price – with house prices higher than otherwise, as the subsidy became capitalised in prices. The planning system has created a [...]
How regional cities can match London’s success May 21, 2014 BRITAIN’S cities face a challenge: the economy may be powering forward, but London and the south east so dominate economic performance that some commentators have been questioning if the capital is becoming overmighty. It may not have the population density of a Tokyo or Mexico City, but London is the Bric capital of the world [...]
Letters to the Editor – 21/05 – Miraculous Modi May 20, 2014 Miraculous Modi [Re: Why India’s political earthquake is the most significant turning point of 2014, Monday] John Hulsman’s euphoric eulogy on India’s “political earthquake” is fully understandable, but may I put forward some reservations? Newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi may want to clear India’s Augean Stables – the corruption that has been strongly embedded [...]
Why the City should vote Conservative in the EU elections May 20, 2014 TOMORROW Britain will go to the polls to vote in the European elections. The choice could not be clearer: while other parties talk, the Conservatives are the ones who will deliver in Europe. The other parties stand at the extreme: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband on one side, both of [...]
Why the City should vote Labour in the EU elections May 20, 2014 AFTER over 30 years of working for world-leading financial institutions, I know that most people working in the City think of the Tories as both better for them personally through low income taxes, and more pro-business generally. But the facts have changed. Today, if you work in the City and vote Conservative, let alone Ukip, [...]