Reform of political funding mustn’t result in taxpayers carrying the bill for parties March 26, 2012 ALLEGATIONS that “the rich” can buy access to our politicians is massively damaging to our democracy. It is therefore critical that the government takes action after yet another money-driven political scandal this weekend, which resulted in the resignation of Peter Cruddas, co-treasurer of the Conservative party. Labour’s cash for honours scandal is fresh in many [...]
Making things is not a soft option in the UK today March 26, 2012 IN THE last twenty years, I have watched the decline of British manufacturing, particularly in my own textile sector. While prices for food and luxury goods have risen steadily, high street clothing prices have become so cheap that UK manufacturers cannot be competitive in the mass market. According to the Working Futures report, which analyses [...]
Serious economics is fun with a good guide March 26, 2012 I’VE been reading Economics Made Simple by the Adam Smith Institute’s Madsen Pirie. The book is a short, well-written and accessible overview of basic economics and serves as an excellent primer. It is accompanied by several witty YouTube videos that I heartily recommend. Many consider the rise of popular economics books to have originated with [...]
RAPID RESPONSES March 26, 2012 Noisy protest [Re: A third runway at Heathrow is essential if London is to be a globally competitive city, Friday] The author is obviously well-informed on the issue, so could he elaborate on the noise implications? He states that noise pollution will be “minimised” with a third runway. What does that mean? That there will [...]
Britain’s faulty extradition treaty has opened up a fast route from City desk to jail March 25, 2012 YOU don’t have to read too far into the City pages, these days, to come across a story about individuals or institutions under investigation by either regulatory or prosecutory authorities. Whether it’s to do with mortgage securities, Libor setting, insider dealing, or another ill, there’s little doubt that working in financial services has never been [...]
Nanny can’t cure the UK’s alcohol price headache March 25, 2012 THE era of big, bossy, state interference, top-down lever pulling is coming to an end.” So said David Cameron in 2008. Of all the hostages to fortune politicians take in their years in opposition, this has the makings of a classic. It’s hard to believe that less than two years have passed since the bright-eyed [...]
Future energy demand requires planning now March 25, 2012 AS THE financial year draws to a close, and with a degree of stability in financial markets, we can now think about the longer-term future of the City and London’s financial services. The findings of the City of London’s latest research report, published in partnership with London First and the City Property Association, highlight the [...]
RAPID RESPONSES March 25, 2012 Priority boarding [Re: A third runway at Heathrow is essential if London is to be a globally competitive city, Friday] Paul Willis is right that Boris Island is imaginative but twenty years away. The short-term answer is for government to dictate that only strategic business routes are served by Heathrow. New routes to China and [...]
A third runway at Heathrow is essential if London is to be a globally competitive city March 22, 2012 IT IS crucial for the UK’s economic recovery that London remains a global centre for trade, able to compete with old rivals such as New York and Tokyo as well as new emerging cities like Beijing, Doha and Sao Paulo. As the rhetoric around diversifying the economy and ending our reliance on financial services ramps [...]
The Budget sent mixed messages on tax certainty March 22, 2012 WE’VE had good news, bad news, and surprising news from the Budget. The UK looks attractive, partly due to financial tension in Europe. The question is whether the Budget added to or reduced the UK’s appeal as a place to do business. The answer, unsurprisingly, is mixed. The reduction of additional rate income tax from [...]