Our digital economy won’t pay off unless everyone in the UK can benefit from it June 9, 2023 The UK Tech Plan is very welcome, but we won't be able to fully benefit from the digital economy and tech innovation until we plug the digital skills gap, writes David Meads
Explainer: The Woking case, and what happens when councils go bust June 8, 2023 This week, Woking Council declared effective bankruptcy with a deficit of £1.2bn. It is only the latest in a string of councils going bust, a result of the chronic local government underfunding that took place over the past decade. The Woking case is one of misguided investments. The council, which was controlled by the Conservatives [...]
Labour’s plan for growth doesn’t work, as Starmer’s stance on energy shows June 8, 2023 Keir Starmer wants to achieve growth, but he's not explaining where he'll get the money for the initial investment. Labour's plan for growth is flawed, especially the part about energy, writes Will Cooling
Don’t trust every “recyclable” logo you see: greenwashing is rife in construction too June 8, 2023 If you think greenwashing is limited to retail or fashion, think again. It's rampant in the construction industry. So buying the right materials requires a lot of diligence, writes Victoria Brocklesby
It’s a great time to be alive in the London tech scene for new early-stage start-ups June 8, 2023 The picture for tech this year is mixed: established start-ups might struggle a bit, while early-stage start-ups have the potential to shine - especially those operating in London, writes Kevin Chong
Explainer: What if Ben Wallace becomes NATO chief? June 7, 2023 Rishi Sunak is in the United States to meet with President Joe Biden for the fourth time this year. His agenda is packed, and the main topic of discussion with Biden is expected to be artificial intelligence. Indeed, Sunak hopes to drum enthusiasm up for the UK as a global leader in AI regulation. Although [...]
There will be winners and losers from AI – but we must embrace it, not shun it June 7, 2023 AI will benefit some people and their jobs while replacing others - like all historic innovations. But if regulated safely, it will prove ground-breaking in many areas, including education, writes Guy Hands
It’s time the Bank of England rethinks monetary policy – and its own methods June 7, 2023 The Bank of England bases its forecasts on conventional models. But when it comes to monetary policy, there are many approaches it should explore instead - particularly the narrative one, writes Paul Ormerod
The Tories have lost rural England – and whoever wins it could triumph in politics June 7, 2023 Rural England has lost faith in the Tories after years of neglect. But Labour and the Lib Dems also don't seem to understand rural communities. Whoever manages to, could win the next elections, writes Mark Tufnell
Explainer: How does Apple’s new virtual reality headset work? June 6, 2023 Yesterday, Apple did something that could revolutionise the way we interact with tech and with our surroundings: it launched Apple Vision Pro, its $3,499 virtual reality headset. Apple CEO Tim Cook described it as “the first Apple product you look through, not at”. The idea might feel a little daunting at first – but once [...]