Letters: Get your own bank branch in order June 1, 2022 [Re: Nationwide boss takes aim at rivals over bank branch closures, May 29] I read with amusement the reported comments by Joe Garner concerning the accelerating number of bank branch closures in recent months. I have just received a notification from Nationwide to the effect that my nearest branch of the Society, which is about two [...]
Explainer-in-brief: firing up the coal plants to stave off the dark of night May 31, 2022 Six million British households could face power cuts this winter, as the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine send shockwaves across the energy supply chain. This is bad news not only for the people affected, who could see their electricity cut in the early mornings and evenings, but also for the green transition. Keeping the [...]
Post-Brexit immigration needs to look further afield than Western countries May 31, 2022 Yesterday, with great fanfare, Britain’s newest work permit route was opened up, while the government prayed for a flood of applications. The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is a much-hyped plank of the UK’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system and is aimed at attracting “the brightest and best” individuals from around the world. It targets international [...]
Davos, once a rollcall of decision makers, has sagged under the weight of its ambition May 31, 2022 HAS Davos lost its mojo? While it was great to be able to stroll around taking in the Swiss air last week without struggling through crowds of Nobel Prize winners, CEOs and billionaires in snow gear, it also felt like a turning point. What sets the World Economic Forum annual meeting apart from other events, [...]
Boris Johnson will be a slave to U-turns until he discovers the art of policy flexibility May 31, 2022 It is not easy for a party to run the country for twelve years, so have some pity on the Conservative Party. Perhaps it was in response to the absolute dearth of ideas ranging from “getting a better paid job” to shopping “own-brand products” that Rishi Sunak finally capitulated and delivered a mini-budget last week [...]
Letters: Paying our way out of a crisis May 31, 2022 [Re: Sunak hits energy firms with windfall tax to pay for £15bn cost of living package, May 27] So, led by the nose…here we go again. Whenever the condescending contrickselfservative “party” find themselves in a difficult place they wave a little money in front of people’s noses to gain their support and buy their votes. [...]
Explainer-in-brief: Behind a Twitter takeover that looks like a soap opera May 30, 2022 When Elon Musk decided to buy Twitter, the Internet went crazy. Some were celebrating the billionaire’s penchant for protecting free speech, others were scared that Twitter would turn into a hate speech nightmare. Now the saga has taken a different turn, with Musk being sued by Twitter investors for driving down the share price of [...]
Great transport means opportunities – we just need to learn how to fund it May 30, 2022 It will not have escaped your notice that Transport for London opened a new part of the network last week. The Elizabeth line, which began life as Crossrail in a 1974 rail report, currently runs in three separate stages across the capital. It will eventually extend from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield [...]
The Platinum Jubilee will be a moment to reflect on what makes us stronger together May 30, 2022 The eyes of the world will be on London this week as we prepare for the Platinum Jubilee – a truly historic occasion where the country will come together to celebrate Her Majesty’s extraordinary seventy years of service. Here in the City, a national service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and many other festivities [...]
Loan sharks will keep circling victims unless the lending industry embraces change May 30, 2022 As many as 1.08 million people could be borrowing from an illegal money lender – a loan shark – according to a recent Centre for Social Justice report. Loan sharks take many forms, from community-based lenders operating in estates to fully-fledged organised crime groups seeking out the most vulnerable. They use pester power, intimidation and [...]