DEBATE: Do we need more regulation and a ‘post-pandemic settlement’ to protect low-paid workers? June 3, 2020 Do we need more regulation and a ‘post-pandemic settlement’ to protect low-paid workers? Hannah Slaughter, economist at the Resolution Foundation, says YES. Low-paid workers have been at the heart of the crisis. They are three times more likely to have stopped working as high earners, and are twice as likely to have put their health [...]
What can we learn from the Black Death? Be prepared, trust entrepreneurs, and have faith June 3, 2020 Can we learn from history? An excellent book by Ben Gummer on the Black Death in fourteenth century Britain, The Scourging Angel, shows that we can. Published 10 years ago, the book offers many intriguing parallels with the Covid-19 crisis. Of course, the Black Death was almost incomprehensibly more lethal. Around 50 per cent of [...]
Survive and thrive: Gastropub goes takeout as punters enjoy the bar from afar June 3, 2020 London’s businesses have been forced to weather a storm they never saw coming, but many have pivoted to new ways of doing business. Today, Heath Ball – owner and landlord at Highgate gastropub The Red Lion & Sun – tells us about his new delivery service, dropping off wine to the park, and the future [...]
Office politics: Pandemic sees onshoring trend ramp up June 2, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating for communities, businesses and economies globally. Over the past 16 weeks, as lockdowns were enforced around the world, consumers retreated to their homes and offices and services closed their doors. The lockdown has presented unique challenges to the customer service industry, much of which has been outsourced overseas over [...]
Britain must get creative to shake off pandemic blues June 2, 2020 On Sunday 10th May, Boris Johnson announced the first tentative steps to reopen the British economy after weeks of being in the deep freeze. The heavily caveated plan has led the Prime Minister to “…believe we can be stronger and better than ever before. More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic…” Read more: London needs its hospitality [...]
Why I’m seeking a Judicial Review of the government’s draconian lockdown measures June 2, 2020 Last month, Boris Johnson addressed the nation and told us to “stay alert”. But with the passing of each day of this totalitarian lockdown, it is clear that it is the government that is leading us like lemmings into disaster, taking us towards the cliff edge with them. My application to the High Court for [...]
Funding the Covid-19 recovery: Seize the opportunity to build a better tax system June 2, 2020 The suspension of huge parts of the economy coupled with an unprecedented package of government support measures mean that tax revenues are falling while public spending is surging. A leaked Treasury assessment estimated a £337bn budget deficit this year, nearly seven times the forecast in March’s budget. Analysts expect the debt-to-GDP ratio to be near [...]
Survive and thrive: Pilgrims get a pizza the delivery action June 2, 2020 London’s businesses have been forced to weather a storm they never saw coming, but many have pivoted to new ways of doing business. Today, Thom Elliot – co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims – writes for City A.M. on how one of the capital’s favourite small chains responded to the crisis and the challenges to come Covid-19 presented a [...]
DEBATE: Should parliament continue to allow remote voting until the threat of Covid-19 has passed? June 2, 2020 Should parliament continue to allow remote voting until the threat of Covid-19 has passed? Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow and chair of the Education Select Committee, says YES. What has Brazil got to do with the controversy about whether or not there should be a hybrid parliament? Some of those who want to deny MPs who are [...]
The EU must dump the idea of EU dumping June 1, 2020 Michel Barnier is refusing to negotiate with the UK on the future trading relationship until the UK agrees to the EU’s idea of a ‘level playing field’. One of the key issues concerning the EU is ‘dumping’. It is worried that the UK will become a super-competitive, de-regulated ‘Singapore-on-Thames’ that undercuts the prices of products [...]