Financial and economic flaws in the SNP’s plan make the case for Union November 26, 2013 THE SCOTTISH government independence White Paper, released yesterday, fell flat. If length were the measure of success, it would be a winner. But despite hundreds of pages, it failed to answer the critical questions that Scots have about independence, and it certainly failed to make any case for breaking up the United Kingdom. Economic and [...]
Letters to the Editor – 27/11 – London housing, Payday loan cap, Best of Twitter November 26, 2013 London housing The mayor’s efforts to encourage more housing are to be welcomed. But unless he is given further powers over planning, developers will continue to find resistance among London’s councils, which all have their own interpretations of planning policy. Some are more forward-thinking than others. But with a rapidly-growing population and a severe lag [...]
The Iranian deal is truly historic – but not because it resolves nuclear crisis November 25, 2013 THE HISTORIC interim agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and (primarily) the West over the former’s nuclear ambitions is the real deal – an actual current event that lives up to the “historic” tagline far too easily given out by breathless commentators. However, on its immediate merits, the best that can be said of [...]
The new Age of Intervention risks hurting the very people it seeks to help November 25, 2013 THE DRILL is well-established. Well-meaning campaigners highlight a perceived injustice, and declare that “something must be done”. The company, industry, or the market is blamed and labelled fundamentally exploitative. Campaigners demand action, through a new regulation, tax, charge or ban to make sure it “never happens again”. The government buckles, even if there is scant [...]
The real story on small business lending isn’t restricted to RBS alone November 25, 2013 RBS IS again under fire – this time over a series of reports into its behaviour towards small business lending. But while accusations by entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson took all the headlines yesterday (notably his allegation that RBS put viable firms into default to make a profit), a second report by former Bank of England deputy [...]
Letters to the Editor – 26/11 – Lobbying airports, State banking, Best of Twitter November 25, 2013 Lobbying airports [Re: Why low cost carriers and hub buster planes make Gatwick the UK’s future, yesterday] The main problem with Stewart Wingate’s argument is his approach to state planning: “Out to the 2040s, there is only enough demand for one new runway.” But in the case of London’s airports, there is no good reason why Gatwick [...]
Why low cost carriers and hub buster planes make Gatwick the UK’s future November 24, 2013 NEXT month, we effectively reach the halfway point in the debate about what extra aviation capacity the UK needs, and where it should happen. The Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, will set out its shortlist. This is an issue the UK has grappled with since the end of the Second World War, and the [...]
City Matters: The City and capitalism must adapt to the challenges of a fast-changing world November 24, 2013 IN RECENT years, London’s business community has been forced to face up to a number of challenges to the status quo. The changes the industry has gone through since have been substantial and not always pleasant. But one positive that has come out of this is an increased focus on a more sustainable form of [...]
Unsecured debt is rising: Students could face the long-term consequences November 24, 2013 AS THE UK economy recovers, some have begun to fear an emerging unsecured credit boom. Total unsecured borrowing has indeed risen by 4 per cent in 2013 to £216bn, the first increase since the financial crisis. But this is not the full story. Our analysis shows that almost all the £8.5bn increase is made up [...]
Letters to the Editor – 25/11 – Broken promises, Party change, Best of Twitter November 24, 2013 Broken promises [Re: Osborne’s budget deficit is going down but progress is slow, Friday] Thank you for reminding the chancellor about his pledge to increase the inheritance tax threshold. This (so far) broken promise leaves a bitter taste for self-reliant people who want their children and grandchildren to have a better standard of life. The [...]