Reform would be an economic disaster (trust me, I worked for Liz Truss) May 21, 2025 I’ve seen first-hand what happens when politicians promise huge tax cuts without acknowledging difficult trade-offs – and that’s exactly what we’d get from a Reform government, says Sir Simon Clarke It’s time to take Reform seriously, because one day soon, they might run our country. Stranger things have happened. Look at France, where the traditional [...]
Digital wills could help tackle predatory marriage May 21, 2025 New reforms to Victorian will writing laws will not only bring the system up-to-date, it close the loop hole that sees elderly people targeted by predatory spouses hoping to profit from their deaths, says Scott Taylor After almost two centuries of outdated Victorian formalities, the Law Commission has recommended a long overdue overhaul of the [...]
London can’t afford to let rich Nimbys block live music in Brockwell Park May 21, 2025 Rich Nimbys are strangling the capital’s culture by blocking concerts in Brockwell Park, and the poorest Londoners will suffer the most, writes James Ford Do you remember when London was fun? Not just mildly fun, but properly and riotously so. A heaving metropolis where sweaty clubbers, ebullient party goers and merry music lovers packed themselves [...]
Reeves takes comfort in the promise of future growth May 21, 2025 The government is having a good week. The Prime Minister, in particular, has a spring in his step following his UK-EU ‘reset’ summit. Addressing MPs in the House of Commons yesterday he seemed to have grown taller. True, it only takes a glance at pictures from last week of Starmer meeting Albania’s 6ft 7in leader [...]
European leaders talk of war, but I keep getting out of offices May 20, 2025 Europe talks a hard game on defence, so why is the ministry of defence more concerned with horse dentists, asks Michael Martins.
Starmer sends his critics into a spin – but will Brexit deal deliver? May 20, 2025 The Prime Minister says it’s now “time to move on from the stale old debates” of Brexit. It’s amazing he didn’t crack a grin as he said these words, knowing as he did that his critics would immediately work themselves up into a frenzy. The critics – including, but not limited to Nigel Farage and [...]
Can Airbnb become an everything app? May 20, 2025 Airbnb is undergoing a bold transformation from a travel platform to a daily-use “superapp” offering local services and experiences, but its success hinges on whether users adopt new habits outside of their holidays, says Paul Armstrong Airbnb is having a busy 2025. The company reported $2.27bn in revenue for Q1, a six per cent year-over-year [...]
The West Midlands is leading the way on new housing May 20, 2025 The West Midlands is pioneering a new, collaborative approach to housing and infrastructure growth by uniting public and private sectors to unlock investment and accelerate development, says Richard Parker As leaders from across the UK’s built environment gather at the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), I want to share some early thinking [...]
Protecting against cyber attacks means tackling rational inattention May 20, 2025 Cybersecurity, highlighted by recent attacks on the Co-op and Marks & Spencer, is not just a technical challenge but also a human and economic one, says Paul Ormerod Cyber security has featured prominently in the media, following the attacks on the Co-op and Marks and Spencer. The Co-op has recovered rather the better of the [...]
Male fail: why are modern men struggling to find a purpose? May 20, 2025 Men in modern society are grappling with a loss of traditional roles, increasing worklessness, and a lack of purpose — issues largely ignored by policymakers, says Emma Revell What do men want? No, I haven’t given up on dating apps and decided to try my luck on the City AM opinion pages. This incredibly pertinent [...]