Editorial: Writing off facial recognition could write off our future growth June 30, 2022 In the West Midlands, police developed an algorithm to identify suspected perpetrators of modern slavery in minutes, a process which normally takes weeks or even months, according to Tom McNeil, the Assisstant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. Technology transformed their efficiency and ability to curb serious crimes which cost the UK as [...]
Letters: Time for special measures June 30, 2022 [Re: Watchdog puts Met Police under special measures, June 29] This is a regrettable but necessary measure. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is to be commended. This is about weak leadership over a sustained timescale , a failure to manage out poor or criminal behaviour by a small minority of police. Most Met officers do an [...]
Explainer-in-brief: About all those green jobs June 29, 2022 One of the key tenets of Boris Johnson’s “green revolution” strategy has always been the creation of jobs. In 2020, the prime minister claimed his green plan would bring 250,000 new jobs, mainly to the North and the Midlands. In the last two years, he’s made this promise many times, often to convince the most [...]
Two parties, devoid of the hopeful political vision for the future we need June 29, 2022 One of the most repeated criticisms of our political landscape is the absence of any long term political vision. Survival over reflection, short term over long term, disparate issues over coherent vision. Our politics needs a radical refresh to shift away from chronic short termism and mediocrity to something much more compelling. We’ve all been [...]
Central banks have fooled themselves into thinking they have power over inflation June 29, 2022 If we look under the bonnet of central banks, we find a debate which is almost theological in its nature.
Conservative ideology is in turmoil as they cling to online speech crackdowns June 29, 2022 A little known internet safety green paper was the genesis of the Online Safety Bill. It was initiated by the Cameron government and published five years ago, with a focus on a voluntary code of practice and transparency requirements for social media. This would have been a relatively incremental step, a collaborative approach to addressing [...]
Editorial: Heathrow is the gateway to London – it needs to swing itself open June 29, 2022 DURING the pandemic, the travel industry long claimed they should be treated differently. The ensuing chaos at airports, then, was the fault of the government for failing to do so. Heathrow was given special consideration by the Civil Aviation Authority, who allowed it to increase landing fees by more than 50 per cent to £30.19 [...]
Letters: Talking it out (but no mail) June 29, 2022 [Re: Postal services face summer mayhem as strikes loom, June 28] I do hope that Royal Mail delivery workers going on strike won’t lead to unnecessary delays in the arrival of ballot papers to any other industry thinking of strike action. That would truly be a “confuse an American” level of irony. Lee Kelley [Re: [...]
Johnson’s plans for further steel tariffs are a black mark against Global Britain June 28, 2022 Boris Johnson has said he intends to extend tariffs on steel from China. This is a clear breach of WTO rules and, allegedly, was the final straw for his ethics adviser. But to Johnson this is the reasonable next step. He will also impose them on other countries, this time in line with rules from [...]
Explainer-in-brief: Behind the low-pay complaints from barristers June 28, 2022 Once considered to be the hallmark of a lucrative career, now even the lawyers are striking. Well, only some of them. Yesterday marked the first day of four-week long strikes undertaken by criminal barristers over legal aid fees. They’re calling for a 25 per cent pay rise, and have been offered 15 per cent. Some [...]