Nice try housing secretary, but your ‘First Homes’ policy will do nothing to solve the housing crisis February 11, 2020 There is a housing crisis in this country. In our cities in particular, the majority of people are spending a significant chunk of their income on rent or are unable to afford to move out of the family home. The idea of home ownership is now a pipe dream for many young people — a [...]
Sajid Javid: I’ll give the City the flexibility it needs to thrive outside the EU February 10, 2020 Now that we have left the EU, we begin a new chapter in our history. Strengthened by a decade of economic recovery, we will step forward with confidence into an era of unity and renewal. We will level up, decarbonise our economy, and back business. Our world-leading financial services sector will play a crucial role [...]
The government must recognise that the BBC is invaluable to ‘Brand Britain’ February 10, 2020 Perhaps it was always inevitable that an organisation defined by its impartiality would be surrounded by politics. The BBC’s licence fee is in the news once again as the government looks to culture secretary Nicky Morgan to review how the corporation should be funded once the current charter ends in 2027. At the heart of [...]
Levelling up does not require cutting down February 10, 2020 Towards the end of last year, this column suggested that 2020 “could be the year when the voice of the provinces is heard more clearly than the roar of the metropolis”. We recognised that the seizure by the Tories of scores of formerly safe Labour seats would mean a recalibration of Conservative priorities, indeed — [...]
Art is food for the soul, so why not hang up a Picasso in the office? February 10, 2020 In recent years, we have seen businesses commit to new mental health initiatives, from training mental health first aiders to developing mindfulness apps, yoga classes at the office, plants, and bringing in pets. Employers of all sizes are looking for ways to keep their workforce happy and motivated. And rightly so — the global cost [...]
Boris has a war to fight, and he’s going to need all the friends he can get February 10, 2020 “Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.” Epigrammatic prose from the US patrician, Gore Vidal. The line serves as a cautionary note on how to lose friends and not influence people — one that another talented communicator of our time, the Prime Minister, might want to heed. Boris Johnson went to bat last [...]
Stop clinging to the last century and let the high street evolve February 10, 2020 Every January, without fail, the hand-wringing begins. After predictably poor Christmas retail results, everyone wants to know: are we seeing the death of the high street? The gloom doesn’t stop. Last week, the boss of John Lewis was the latest to lament the retail landscape, warning of potential store closures and job losses. Why are [...]
DEBATE: Is ‘level playing field’ alignment a reasonable part of a UK-EU free trade agreement? February 10, 2020 Is ‘level playing field’ alignment a necessary and reasonable part of a UK-EU free trade agreement? Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat acting leader and economy spokesperson, says YES. Maintaining a common rulebook with the EU is in the UK’s best interest. Boris Johnson claims that, like Canada, we shouldn’t be expected to take on EU [...]
The financial services sector will be key as we chart a new course on the world stage February 8, 2020 The UK’s financial services sector has charted a pragmatic course since the EU Referendum, and recent figures show that it continues to flourish. Indeed, research from Innovate Finance revealed how investment in the UK’s fintech sector reached a record high of nearly $5bn in 2019, with industry growth far outstripping that of the US, China, [...]
Tidjane Thiam’s resignation signifies perfect PR storm for Credit Suisse February 7, 2020 The shock resignation of Tidjane Thiam is a leadership clusterbuster. Over the last three years, Credit Suisse have had numerous opportunities to move on from the embarrassing series of revelations that have dogged their leadership. The resignation of their CEO will do very little to dispel the image of a toxic culture at the top. [...]