Stuffing the House of Lords with your friends is practically a parliamentary tradition August 29, 2019 To consolidate his Brexit position, Boris Johnson is rumoured to be lining up a selection of “Brexit heroes” for elevation to the Lords – a line of eurosceptics in ermine, ready to take to the red benches to shore up his support in the upper house. It is a politically expedient plan, with the Conservatives [...]
DEBATE: Is Bill Dudley right to argue that central bankers should fight back against politicians like Trump? August 29, 2019 Is Bill Dudley right to argue that central bankers should fight back against politicians like Trump? Vicky Pryce, former joint head of the Government Economic Service, a board-member of CEB,R and co-author of It’s the Economy, Stupid, says YES. At first reading, former Federal Reserve policymaker Bill Dudley seems to be making a political statement. [...]
Does Hargreaves Lansdown’s strategy cause too much money to pour into too few funds? August 28, 2019 Given that diversification is one of the most important principles of investing, we should question why the UK’s largest investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown doesn’t seem to be following this basic idea. This became apparent in the wake of the scandal around Britain’s most famous fund manager, as £1.6bn was funnelled into Neil Woodford’s still-suspended fund [...]
DEBATE: Are ‘women-only’ spaces the answer to preventing sexism in the workplace? August 28, 2019 Could “women-only” spaces be the answer to preventing sexism in the workplace? YES, says Ksenia Tkacheva, the co-founder of Superfood Bakery. In our experience, “women-only” spaces work. A key cause of sexism is an unfounded lack of respect for the opposite sex. But when you have a women-only workplace, it results in fundamental respect for [...]
The summer is over, now it’s back to Brexit August 28, 2019 The board is set, the pieces are moving, to quote Gandalf from The Lord Of The Rings. Next week, MPs return from the summer recess and both the Brexiter and Remain sides are rallying their troops for the autumn battle. After a summer of insults and infighting, opponents of a no-deal Brexit (including Labour, the [...]
Let’s call time on poisonous workspaces that are causing stress August 28, 2019 When we feel in control, we can grow, develop, and become better people. Surely this state of mind is crucial for an effective working environment? An increasing focus on workplace wellbeing suggests that there is a shift in the right direction, but can stress and anxiety really be solved with table tennis and free pizza? [...]
Supply and demand at work, or just good bargaining? The reality behind CEO pay August 28, 2019 A report published by Deloitte a couple of weeks ago will have enhanced the feeling of holiday wellbeing for many people. The median annual pay for bosses of FTSE 100 companies fell in 2018 to £3.4m, compared to £4m in 2017. This is the lowest level since 2014, when the UK brought in rules which [...]
DEBATE: Should we learn from the ‘Scandinavia summer’ model and take the month of August off? August 27, 2019 Should we learn from the ‘Scandinavia summer’ model and take the month of August off? Mathias Mikkelsen, chief executive of productivity startup Memory, says YES. For anyone visiting Oslo at this time of year, they might find it strangely quiet. Despite the sunshine bringing our maritime city to life, the streets are empty. The reason? [...]
Re-admit Russia to the G7? It should be expelled outright August 27, 2019 If reports are to be believed, the recent G7 summit was a tense affair, mainly thanks to Donald Trump. From being the only head of government to miss a meeting on climate change, to pitching his own Miami hotel resort for the next G7 summit, the US President kept the other world leaders constantly on [...]
Filled with HS2 fever? No? Then let’s think up something better August 27, 2019 HS2, the unloved child of British infrastructure, looks like a goner. And while those into trains might spot that there is a review underway, there can be little doubt that this in itself sends a terminal signal to a project that once seemed to offer a glimpse of what a brave new British future might [...]