Levelling up must mean unleashing our post-Brexit potential to reel in global investment May 18, 2021 Our recovery from the pandemic, delivering the benefits of Brexit and fulfilling the levelling up agenda are the three cornerstone challenges Boris Johnson is facing. Investment is a key to all of those. Rishi Sunak recognised that in the budget with policy initiatives ranging from super deductions to special economic zones. Public investment alone, however, [...]
A new breed of activist investors: capitalism is the engine of corporate change May 18, 2021 The ESG naysayers – and yes, they do exist – have a large slice of humble pie to eat. The world as we know it, and how we choose to make our own individual mark on it, has changed drastically in the last 20 years. Our sense of personal responsibility has been supercharged over the [...]
Helicopter money: large-scale cash handouts are no panacea for economies May 18, 2021 As the Indian variant threatens a third wave of coronavirus and government deficits reach new heights, the notion of so-called helicopter money has been touted as a panacea for Central Banks. Economists on payroll are falling over themselves to claim it is the ultimate weapon to boost economist growth and avoid deflation. Trouble is, it [...]
Indian variant analysis: Keep calm and get a vaccine May 17, 2021 The debate around the pandemic and relaxation of lockdown and travel restrictions in the UK has become frenzied by fears over new variants. There is a dearth of calm and accurate presentation of facts by ministers and trusted voices. Exiting lockdown for good was never going to be a straight-forward task. Bumps in the road [...]
An unholy alliance between the Tories, Greens and Lib Dems could hold Sadiq Khan’s feet to the fire May 17, 2021 The London Assembly rarely cuts through in the news landscape. It’s committee structure does not quicken the pulse or stiffen the sinew. This is in some ways a pity, as the assembly has wide powers to scrutinise the activities of the elected mayor and can, in some circumstances, even amend his budget or reject strategic [...]
Bupa Global CEO: We need a serious rethink on how to conduct business travel May 17, 2021 As the long-awaited green list holiday destinations have been unveiled, the airline and associated travel industries must be breathing a sigh of relief. However, whilst the future looks clearer for holidaymakers, the return of business travel has been put on ice over the course of the pandemic. The business travel industry has dealt with many [...]
The City is opening up even more, let’s all enjoy it May 17, 2021 Like the rest of the country, the City of London is feeling a sense of anticipation as England enters the third step of the Government’s roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions. The return of indoor hospitality and reopening of cultural institutions is a welcome return to normality that will help the Square Mile regain the exciting [...]
Cinemas aren’t dead, but we need to overhaul the anonymous multiplex design May 16, 2021 Multiplex cinemas need more than new seats to reengage cinema audiences. Most of these mammoth properties have stood largely unoccupied since the last lockdown – a time during which subscribers to the major streaming services have swelled within the UK to over 32 million. Cinemas, however, have an opportunity, not to mention the motivation, to [...]
Keir Starmer was right on one thing in his reshuffle – we need a Future of Work Secretary May 15, 2021 After a poor set of local election results and a botched reshuffle, Labour hasn’t had the best of weeks. But one thing it may have gotten right is the appointment of Angela Rayner as “shadow secretary for the future of work”. While it is easy to mock the elaborate titles bestowed on the deputy leader [...]
In the lead up to COP26, ministers need to revolutionise procurement policies to meet net zero targets May 14, 2021 Boris Johnson’s bold aim to cut carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 has cemented Britain’s commitment to address the climate crisis in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow later this year. Questions on delivery remain, however. While we await the Treasury’s much-anticipated Net Zero review, the UK needs to deploy a smart [...]