Embracing uncertainty is the only path out of the pandemic August 4, 2021 A few days ago, Sajid Javid made one of the most thoughtful and encouraging statements by a government minister during the whole Covid crisis. Early In July, he seemed to be falling under the control of the modellers. The number of daily infections, he stated confidently, would soon reach 100,000, bowing to the so-called experts. [...]
Bank of England’s MPC meeting: Who will take Haldane’s hawkish reins? August 3, 2021 A big hole has been left at the table of the latest round of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee meetings – they are the first since chief economist Andy Haldane departed the Old Lady after over 30 years of service. Much of the focus on Thursday’s MPC policy announcements will be on whether [...]
Debate: Should London businesses be hiring from across the world to work remotely? August 3, 2021 As the capital gradually returns to the office, businesses are grappling with a new challenge in hiring. Many have become accustomed to remote working over the last year and are keen to access the most talented people from across the world in order to fill vacancies. Is it the right way forward? Callum Adamson and [...]
The pandemic has the power to set back gender equality and care burdens – we mustn’t let it August 3, 2021 Britain has been at the forefront of empowering women economically and combating gender inequality, but the uneven impact of the pandemic has thrown much of this progress into jeopardy. Research on the economic fallout has found that the pandemic-driven recession may be driving the first “she-cession” where women’s economic prosperity, relative to men’s, has slid [...]
Nigel Farage has lost his way as voice for the silent majority August 2, 2021 There are some basic rules of public relations which are familiar to anyone with, well, the world. There are some groups which it is folly to challenge, no matter how well argued you think your case is. Nurses, children’s hospitals, veterinarians, cancer researchers: all are best given a wide berth if you’re feeling pugilistic, as [...]
E.ON chief exec: energy companies need to step up to the net zero challenge and take responsibility August 2, 2021 Unless the UK takes a large number of brave and radical measures in this decade, our ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will just be a pipe dream. It will also mean Britain will miss out on the business and social benefits of a green economy, which would otherwise lay the foundations of prosperity [...]
The City has a duty to prevent people from lower socio-economic backgrounds falling behind August 2, 2021 With traditional ways of working being upended by the pandemic, employers and employees across all industries are looking to reinvent their sector and address historic challenges. For the financial and professional services sector, a key part of this journey has to be achieving a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Focusing on increasing diversity in the [...]
The return of the West End: rebuilding a delicate ecosystem of workers and culture August 1, 2021 While London’s West End may be known for its flagship stores, Michelin star restaurants, world-class hotels and unrivalled theatres, it is also home to a thriving office sector. One in ten Londoners are employed in the West End across various industries, from retail and leisure through to finance and real estate. This ecosystem of industries [...]
Sunday Read: Bank of England’s QE programme has muddied the water between right and wrong August 1, 2021 “The problem with QE is it works in practice but it doesn’t work in theory,” an often quoted joke said by former Fed chair Ben Bernanke. But, some are testing that hypothesis. The backdrop to Thursday’s Bank of England meeting is much more unforgiving than previous ones. A House of Lords committee recently accused the [...]
A cultural mea culpa: a fragile over-reliance on freelancers and insecurity in the creative arts cannot continue July 31, 2021 In March 2020, I was midway through lecturing at the Sorbonne on plagues and portents in ancient Rome, Meanwhile, it was becoming increasingly clear that something alarming was happening in our own world. The night before I left Paris, I took an evening trip through the Louvre. It was practically empty – no queues by [...]