It will be trade that powers Britain’s resurgence after Covid-19 May 4, 2020 Britain is at its best when we act together. History has shown us to be the most successful of unions. Yet we now face an enemy that knows no national boundaries. Once defeated, as it will be, the successful rebooting of the global economy will require us to work as one. I am proud that [...]
Taiwan deserves a seat at the WHO table May 4, 2020 As the UK battles the Covid-19, there are lessons that can be drawn from the experience and success that Taiwan has had in containing the pandemic. At first glance, Taiwan would appear to be a potential hotspot. Approximately 850,000 Taiwanese currently work and live in China, with Taiwan experiencing its first Covid-19 case as early [...]
Coronavirus: There are opportunities for wily – and brave – investors May 4, 2020 Britain’s investors could be forgiven for feeling desperate in the current crisis. They have faced a triple whammy from world markets, governments and companies. Not only have they seen the value of their portfolios fall by up to 20%, but with company after company cancelling dividends, their income has fallen by half. Heavyweights such as [...]
The oil war risks becoming a three-way suicide pact May 4, 2020 I have long been a devotee of the films of the great Sergio Leone, especially his Spaghetti Westerns. On a laughably threadbare budget, the great director made a virtue of his technical limitations, creating nothing less than a whole new look and feel in filmmaking. The climaxes of Leone films are always a treat, perhaps [...]
Coronavirus: Recovery is perfect timing for a UK green bond May 1, 2020 This unprecedented public health crisis is placing an almighty toll on UK finances. Estimates vary but the UK government will be borrowing hundreds of billions by year-end, many businesses are suffering despite the extensive support offered and several years of record low unemployment are now at risk owing to this terrible virus. It is right [...]
Coronavirus: The human cost is tragic but winners will emerge May 1, 2020 The human toll is heavy, both physically and morally, health systems are pushed to their limit, the number of bankruptcies is increasing, and millions of jobs have been lost. This crisis affects billions of people around the world in what looks like a major recession, the first in twelve years. The scope of the events [...]
Coronavirus: London’s dynamic economy will return May 1, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has changed virtually every aspect of the way we live and its awful legacy will be felt for a long time. Above all, the loss of life is clearly the most terrible and important impact – and the reason we must do whatever it takes to reduce and ultimately to prevent transmission. [...]
Could the pandemic be a turning point for tech’s relationship with the state? May 1, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic the world currently finds itself in is worrying for everyone. From fears around job security to health and wellbeing of friends and family, it is a concerning time for all. The coronavirus is seeming to bring out both the best in humanity, with greater sense of community and people volunteering for the [...]
Sketch: The tech giants dance to their own tune in Zoom parliament April 30, 2020 “Have you ever met Mark Zuckerberg?” the culture select committee asks, wasting no time in getting to the real issues about the spread of fake news during the coronavirus crisis. Facebook’s UK public policy manager, a bespectacled millennial sat predictably next to a potted plant, looks nonplussed via webcam. “I have seen him,” he says [...]
Coronavirus: The crisis could reshape investment strategies for the better April 30, 2020 We are living through a period of modern history that very few could have imagined. Three billion people worldwide are in lockdown, the value of global commerce is being called into question as protectionism is on the rise, and financial markets are unsure what assets are worth. The world as we knew it has been [...]