In tearing up America’s democratic norms, Donald Trump leaves behind a poisonous legacy November 15, 2020 As I write this, with the states of Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina circling around him, the first term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States is about to come to a shattering end. Notice that I said first term. For there is little doubt that the Republican Party remains [...]
Our recovery from Covid-19 is a chance not to build walls, but to cooperate November 15, 2020 As we make our way through the second round of national Covid-19 restrictions, life today is very different to what we expected 12 months ago. The UK last week passed the tragic milestone of 50,000 deaths linked to this terrible virus, while many businesses and households across the country continue to struggle due to the [...]
DEBATE: Will the National Security and Investment Bill make it harder for the UK to remain a business hub? November 13, 2020 Max von Thun, senior associate at political advisory firm Global Counsel, says YES. Under the screening regime proposed by the new National Security and Investment Bill, a much higher number of deals will be subject to potential government intervention on national security grounds for up to five years after they have taken place. In addition [...]
Pay no attention to the dysfunctional comms team behind the Downing Street curtain November 13, 2020 There’s a well-known warning in the world of theatre tech: if someone notices the lighting, you haven’t done your job. Yes, sometimes dazzling special effects are what make a show, but nine times out of 10 the audience only becomes aware of the tech if something goes wrong. The way you know you’re doing a [...]
When did central banks decide that abnormal monetary growth doesn’t matter anymore? November 13, 2020 With many countries’ economies still suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, or even — as in the UK — still under large-scale lockdown, another fall in spending and output in the autumn is expected. Worryingly, policymakers around the world only seem to be concerned about the short-term impact of the lockdowns, and appear [...]
Editorial: Downing Street’s political infighting mirrored in Brexit strategy November 12, 2020 Downing Street's political infighting mirrored in Brexit strategy
Begone Trumpist protectionism! How Biden will boost prospects for global trade November 12, 2020 We cannot be sure on the exact order in which European leaders were contacted by the US President-elect, but we do know that Boris Johnson was among them early on, silencing the hysteria that our Prime Minister might be snubbed. Fears have abounded during this US presidential race that a Joe Biden win would result [...]
Green Bonds are misguided, counter-productive, and an investment handicap November 12, 2020 On Monday, the chancellor announced that the UK government will soon be issuing “Green Bonds”. In separate but related news, Scottish Widows will dump £400m of stocks that don’t meet Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. ESG compliance has become the first thing discussed at investment committee meetings. Everyone wants to show how green they [...]
Why are vulnerable working-age adults like me at the back of the vaccine queue? November 12, 2020 The last few days have been filled with the exciting news of one — at least — vaccine being made available in as little as a few weeks. After almost nine months in the grips of a pandemic, it is the news that the UK population has been desperately waiting to hear. Yet, while the [...]
Could ditching the office make us all poorer? November 12, 2020 While we have in many ways adjusted to life in a pandemic, the profoundly disorientating changes we’ve seen since the initial nationwide lockdown are stark. The “death of the office” narrative has persisted through the easing and then reimposing of lockdown restrictions, and while no one can predict exactly how this will play out, it [...]