Aye, aye Captain! The new defence chief of staff needs to tackle the China question October 11, 2021 The appointment of a new chief of the defence staff—the professional head of the British armed forces— easily slips into the important but not newsworthy category. Last week’s announcement that Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, currently first sea lord, will take up the post in November should, however, give even passing observers pause for thought. For [...]
Two years on the EU and the UK need to find a way to work together on finance October 11, 2021 It has been almost two years since the UK left the European Union. In that time, political relations across the Channel have been turbulent, to put it mildly. As with any divorce, we have all been taking time to adjust to the new relationship. Over this period it has also become clearer than ever that [...]
Letters: No sympathy for Boris or business October 11, 2021 [Re: Business leaders bash Boris, 7th October] I write further to your newspaper’s article regarding the criticism of the Prime Minister’s alleged “economic illiteracy” by various business people, including the Federation of Small Businesses. I suspect that Boris Johnson’s critics will attract little sympathy from the general public This is especially true given that [...]
Zooming into a climate crisis October 8, 2021 As I sat on my seventh Zoom call of the day, my mind drifted into thinking about how my working habits have changed over the last year. As we entered lockdown in 2020, there was a palpable enthusiasm as we all began to adopt new behaviours. Not ‘going to work’ became legitimised by the pandemic, [...]
Opinion-in-brief: Talking down to London won’t level up the country October 8, 2021 Boris Johnson’s conference speech may have been in his signature comedic style but many in London’s business community are concerned for their future today. A cumulative crisis in business conditions is threatening our recovery. The capital has seen a distressing number of corporate casualties and is now facing supply chains issues, labour shortages and inflation. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Quins are tough to beat when they’re on a roll October 8, 2021 Harlequins and Bristol love playing expansive, broken-field rugby but I think the Bears will continue their rocky start when the teams meet tonight. Last year’s Premiership semi-final between the two sides was the best game of the season, and definitely the best comeback I’ve seen in my life. Quins and Bristol specialised in chucking the [...]
Sturgeon’s dismal domestic record has derailed the SNP’s train of separatism October 8, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon believes in destiny. In an interview with the Financial Times published yesterday, the First Minister claimed that another referendum on Scottish independence is inevitable because of the demographics of independence. “I’ve got democracy on my side”, she argued, “if they think it’s about playing a waiting game, I’ve probably got time on my [...]
Drink up, America. Whisky tariffs should be ditched for good in a cross-Atlantic pact October 8, 2021 Scotch whisky distillers were the belle of the ball earlier this year, when the UK and US announced they would suspend tariffs on distilled spirits imported to each respective country by the other. Then Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the announcement was “fantastic news for major employers like Scotch whisky.” The suspension is temporary. And [...]
Editorial: If tax cuts worked in a crisis, why not after it, too? October 8, 2021 AS A RULE, when one tries something, and it works, one continues it. Having finally mastered penicillin, Alexander Fleming did not go back to the drawing board. Nor, having invented the telephone, did Alexander Graham Bell eschew his new contraption in favour of the carrier pigeon. Past success is worth repeating is a maxim worth [...]
Visas for shortage woes are a sticking plaster sowing division between industries October 8, 2021 As thousands of temporary visas to plug shortages across the UK are released in the run up to and beyond Christmas, the uncertainty from affected industries has not abated: Are there enough visas? Do they help sectors in need? And will they address region-specific challenges? In the backdrop, there are yet more shortages. The latest [...]