In praise of Count Binface July 15, 2026 By standing in the impending by-election in Clacton, Count Binface has more than proved his worth to both comedy and democracy, says James Ford I must confess to having a conflicted attitude to Count Binface. On the one hand, the former political adviser within me (who is, of course, a profound political snob) tends to [...]
You don’t have to be psychopathic to work in the City… but it helps July 15, 2026 The perfect CV? 60 per cent genius and 40 per cent psychopath, says author and former 'Cityboy' Geraint Anderson in today's Notebook.
BNPL regulation is proof that industry and regulators can work together successfully July 15, 2026 It’s often argued that government regulation can hamper innovation, growth and competition. However, new regulations on Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), which come into force today, demonstrate that government, regulators and industry can successfully collaborate to improve consumer outcomes, while also supporting retail and tech sectors. Since Clearpay launched in the UK in 2019, we’ve [...]
Tax online businesses more to save Britain’s struggling high streets July 14, 2026 Labour promised to reform business rates to level the playing field between online and physical businesses. It's time to make true.
Here’s an idea for you Gary Stevenson: a 0 per cent wealth tax July 14, 2026 Gary Stevenson’s success lies in translating a highly complicated economic problem into an emotional story people instinctively understand. The trouble is that successful communication is not really about popularity, it is about ensuring the policy underpinning the message can survive contact with a political and economic reality, says Tim Focas Eye catching, the audience wants [...]
Could an England World Cup win boost the markets? July 14, 2026 The equity markets of World Cup-winning countries frequently outperform immediately after victory. A Goldman Sachs study of tournaments from 1974-2014 found that every winner except Brazil in 2002 subsequently enjoyed a period of market outperformance, says Helen Thomas If football finally came home, what might it do for financial markets, aside from a late start [...]
Kemi Badenoch’s economic revolution could set the City free July 14, 2026 Abolishing bank ring-fencing, recalibrating capital requirements, and replacing the Financial Ombudsman Service are essential steps to remove stifling regulations and reignite growth, says Norbert Sobolak No political party in Britain has set out a positive agenda for the financial services sector since the 2008 crisis. The reticence is understandable; after 2008, defending finance won no [...]
The Leeds Reforms fixed the plumbing – now we’re turning up the tap for retail investors July 14, 2026 Building on the structural improvements of the Leeds Reforms, the UK now aims to foster a stronger national investment culture through the ‘Invest for the Future’ campaign, says Karen Northey One year on from the Leeds Reforms, the UK has made rapid progress on the mechanics of retail investment. The harder task now is cultural: [...]
The City will bid good riddance to Rachel Reeves July 14, 2026 Rachel Reeves should be remembered: for dissembling, breaking promises and making Brits poorer. Little consolation, then, that her likely successor Ed Miliband will be so much worse, says Alys Denby Rachel Reeves will make what is likely to be her final Mansion House Speech this evening and will encourage Andy Burnham to continue her legacy. [...]
Why does Britain treat housebuilding as one big burden? July 14, 2026 Housebuilding is one of Britain's most obvious economic opportunities, yet government and citizens alike seem to see it only as a burden.