Rory Stewart: We need less politics and more action to tackle terrorism February 5, 2020 Speaking to a man in Streatham who’d cradled a bleeding victim after Sunday’s terrorist attack reminded me of many places far away. I remembered the attack on my compound in southern Iraq, the screams and wreckage of bombs in Baghdad and Kabul, my friend Haider who was killed by terrorists, because he worked for me [...]
Coca-Cola prioritises environment and health in a bid to satisfy customers February 5, 2020 The environment, sustainability and personal health are increasingly important topics for Britons. As we become more accustomed to climate strikes, and groups like Extinction Rebellion and activists like Greta Thunberg become news mainstays, the average consumer is now much more aware of the impact of their purchases. The impact that both sustainability and health are [...]
Government flies into trouble with targets February 5, 2020 One can understand why a man whose job it is to promote and run an airport may be of the view that flying is, on balance, quite a good idea. For much of the time that Heathrow has been in business, its bosses have largely had their licence to operate pretty much nailed on — [...]
You’re never too old to start a business: Why we need to harness senior enterprise February 5, 2020 With a rapidly-ageing demographic across Europe, it is time to re-evaluate not only our own attitudes towards older people, but also the value of senior enterprise and their contribution to society. By 2020, the over-50s in the UK will make up nearly one third of the working-age population, and almost half of the adult population. [...]
DEBATE: Should the government scrap plans to impose an extra 20-week delay on divorces? February 5, 2020 Should the government scrap plans to impose an extra 20-week delay on divorces? YES, says Emily Brand, a partner at Boodle Hatfield. The government’s reason for introducing the new 20-week delay appears to be to ensure that couples have a period to “reflect on the decision to divorce”, “change course”, or “agree arrangements for the [...]
Trump’s peace plan has shifted the Palestinian direction of travel February 5, 2020 History is usually a cruel mistress to its losers, particularly in the case of peoples attempting to create new nations who failed in their aspirations. Not much is heard today of the Republic of Biafra, for example, an attempt led largely by the Igbo people to create an independent state carved out of Nigeria’s eastern [...]
The ‘graduate premium’ is little more than a myth — invest in further education instead February 5, 2020 Universities and their students are seldom out of the news. Ever since Tony Blair pledged to send 50 per cent of 18–21 year olds to university, they have been a persistent topic in political economy. University towns now notoriously favour Labour at the ballot box, often an island of red in a surrounding sea of [...]
Champion of free trade? Prime Minister Boris Johnson must match rhetoric with action February 5, 2020 For believers in free trade, Boris Johnson’s speech in the Painted Hall on Monday was, in many ways, highly encouraging. The Prime Minister emphasised the role that free trade has played in lifting some of the poorest people on the planet out of poverty, name-checked Adam Smith and his invisible hand of the market, and [...]
Why Legal & General is trying to slay the chair and CEO role February 4, 2020 Blackrock’s Larry Fink is a big fan of using shareholder muscle to influence corporate culture. From climate change to “profit with purpose” he’s vowed to exercise his fund’s substantial clout in pursuit of “sound corporate governance” and “an unwavering focus on long-term sustainability”. Fink’s eyebrows may have risen a little, then, upon discovering that fellow [...]
The PM’s posturing and fighting stance could upset trade talks before they’ve even begun February 4, 2020 The tears of joy and sadness seen on Brexit Day had barely dried before the UK and EU were at each other’s throats again ahead of trade talks set to last until the end of the year. Yesterday, both the UK and EU set out their negotiating positions, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson blithely stating [...]