On World Homelessness Day, can impact investing help us build back better? October 10, 2020 There is no debating that we are looking down the barrel of a tough six months. An increase in the daily cases of Covid-19 means that the gradual loosening of restrictions has ground to a halt, and the threat of a return to a full lockdown ahead of the festive season will be the Sword [...]
DEBATE: Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? October 9, 2020 Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? Mark Henriques, managing director of Cripps & Co and petitioner seeking an injunction against the government measures, says YES. In March, lockdown shattered the plans of the thousands of people set to marry this year. I have watched with dismay as a temporary upset, caused by [...]
Samaritans and the City: A message for World Mental Health Day October 9, 2020 Tomorrow marks World Mental Health Day, and this year, I can’t help but think how many lives have been profoundly altered by the shock events of 2020. I am reflecting more on what we have all learnt, about ourselves and our world. What change do we want? How can we directly contribute to making our [...]
The pensions triple-lock is unjustifiable in normal times — in the Covid era, it is utterly unconscionable October 9, 2020 Imagine you a Conservative chancellor trying to steer the economy through the midst of the worst pandemic in modern history. You have done your best to protect jobs and support struggling businesses in the face of drastic lockdown restrictions, while tax receipts shrivelled and the healthcare bill has ballooned beyond all previous measures. Despite your [...]
The UK’s new industrial strategy must not forget London October 9, 2020 Science and technology is set to be at the heart of the UK’s new industrial strategy — to be launched, we’re told, latest this autumn as the government looks to find new ways to reset the UK economy after the worst recession in 300 years. Trailed news of the policy suggests that there will be [...]
Welcome to the Age of Boycotts, where controversy can be a brand’s best friend October 8, 2020 This summer’s hectic news agenda made corporate boycotts the latest hot fashion accessory — and it’s not a trend that looks likely to die any time soon. But rather than panicking and getting ready to fold to the demands of the online (and offline) mob, companies should reframe the risk of being subject to a [...]
The arts are not an optional extra, they are the life and soul of our nation October 8, 2020 If at first you don’t succeed, retrain and move into a more viable vocation. That was the advice of the chancellor this week with regards to the impossible position faced by artists, musicians and actors who have seen their livelihoods decimated since the start of the Covid crisis. ITV may have later clarified that Rishi Sunak’s [...]
Back London today — so that London may back the UK tomorrow October 8, 2020 At the Conservative Party Conference this week, chancellor Rishi Sunak promised he “will always be pragmatic”. Right now, however, the policies governing our towns and cities appear anything but pragmatic. Given that the UK’s major cities, and especially London, are going to be vital in helping our economy recover from the impact of Covid-19, it [...]
Missed 16,000 Covid cases thanks to an Excel error? You need a data literacy lesson October 8, 2020 As has been widely reported, a technical glitch with the NHS Test and Trace system last week meant that almost 16,000 positive Covid-19 cases were not recorded in the official data. The issue lay with Public Health England’s use of Microsoft Excel to transfer lab results into its reporting dashboards. The results were stored in [...]
Be brave Mr Sunak… and keep spending October 7, 2020 Since Rishi Sunak stepped into the suddenly vacant 11 Downing Street back in February, he’s proved a fleet-footed chancellor, earning praise for the speed at which he launched the furlough programme, provided cash support to struggling companies, and stood behind the economy as the pandemic took hold. He quickly realised that extraordinary times required extraordinary [...]