The Square Mile’s reputation as a no-go zone on weekends needs to be overhauled October 10, 2022 We must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the Square Mile, just as the Elizabeth Line is connecting more people to the City than ever before.
A cashless society is proof we need to challenge the Visa and Mastercard monopolies October 10, 2022 How often do you see a “card only” sign as you go to pay for your coffee? Cash payments have declined by two thirds since 2010, and card payments have become the de facto way to pay, accounting for 73 per cent of UK transactions in 2021. From this change, there have been two significant [...]
Letters: Flexible work? Flexible pay. October 10, 2022 [Re: Energy bills is Kwarteng’s first priority, then we must claw back our dismal productivity, Sept 12] Between the first and second quarters of this year, the UK had no productivity growth. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that between the first three-month period in 2022 and the second, productivity in [...]
Explainer-in-brief: Blackouts? What blackouts? October 7, 2022 Liz Truss was in Prague yesterday telling European leaders they’ll need to help to keep lights on across the continent this winter. This came as the National Grid warned that we could be faced with rolling blackouts if we don’t import enough energy. How have we come to this? Go back to a year ago, [...]
Online tech regulation needs to change business models, not censor content October 7, 2022 Molly Russell’s tragic story highlights why regulation is needed. But the Online Safety Bill is not the answer.
As households cut spending, the big beasts of insurance need to get up to speed October 7, 2022 When the economy is fragile, sectors must adapt. This is a truism repeated again and again because it is the nature of financial growth and innovation. As household budgets shrink, customers are shopping around for better deals – for food, for bills and almost all other outgoings. Insurance is no exception, though it is unique [...]
If Truss wants growth, she needs to face down the rural lobby and back solar farms October 7, 2022 We need to look at the question of priorities and if we’re ready to focus on energy security. Either way, we will need heavy investment in renewables.
Letters: Covering up the faulty cover October 7, 2022 [Re: FCA vows to take action against insurers falling short on business interruption claims, Oct 4] During the pandemic, businesses faced unprecedented disruptions to their supply chain, some had to close and many perceived a lack of support from their insurers during their time of need. Insurers argued that pandemic impacts were not anticipated or [...]
Explainer-in-brief: The back story of the bizarre Elon Musk Twitter deal October 6, 2022 Yes, no, yes. Elon Musk has been uniquely indecisive about his buyout of Twitter. He seems to have finally capitulated and confirmed the deal just weeks before he was expected in court over his u-turns. The legal drama started when Musk announced he was going to buy the social media platform in a $44bn deal. [...]
Conservative police chiefs are smoking something if they crack down on cannabis October 6, 2022 The benefits - in terms of health, economics and crime - of decriminalisation would be far greater than slapping more restrictions on weed.