As the rest of the world drifts toward protectionism, can Africa show the way to free trade? August 19, 2019 The world is presently witnessing a curious pattern. Even as those who have benefited most from free trade (the US, the EU, China) are foolishly turning towards the siren call of protectionism, the rest of the world, especially Africa, has emerged as liberal internationalism’s unlikely champion. Last month, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made headlines by [...]
DEBATE: With Greta Thunberg on a sailing trip to protest climate change, are banks taking the threat seriously? August 19, 2019 With Greta Thunberg on a sailing trip to protest climate change, are banks taking the threat seriously? Nick Jacobs, chief executive at real estate investment company Rowan, says YES. Climate change makes investment change an imperative, and the wider investment and finance community needs to take this to heart. Thankfully, the signs are that finance [...]
Results are in, now businesses across the City must level up to boost social mobility August 19, 2019 Last week saw pupils across the UK celebrate their A-level results. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into preparing for these exams – not only from the pupils themselves, but also from teachers, support staff, school governors, and parents. The City of London Corporation, which manages 10 high-performing academies across London’s boroughs, was [...]
Trump’s blame game strategy is backfiring August 19, 2019 US President Donald Trump’s economic cheerleaders were out in force yesterday trying to convince American voters that all is hunky-dory with the US economy and the escalating trade war with China. “There is no recession in sight,” White House economist Larry Kudlow insisted, after 1,500 points was wiped off the Dow Jones in recent weeks [...]
DEBATE: Do the students who have just got their A-levels have less to look forward to than past generations? August 16, 2019 Do the students who have just got their A-levels have less to look forward to than past generations? Charlotte Gill, a freelance writer, says YES. A-level results day is one of the most joyous occasions of the year, reminding us of how much talent the UK has. But among the fanfare remains an awful fact: [...]
Meat Loaf Remainism is just a return to politics as usual August 16, 2019 I’ll give fellow journalist John Rentoul the credit for coming up with the term “Meat Loaf Remainism”, although he is just one of many commentators to have noted how the present political predicament resembles a certain epic nineties rock anthem. Like the lover who swears “I would do anything for love, but I won’t do [...]
How to keep cool while covering for colleagues during holiday season August 16, 2019 August can be a stressful time for remainers. No, not people anxious about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, but those left in the office during the holiday period while their colleagues are sunning and Instagramming themselves on the beach. A study by OnePoll last year found that covering for co-workers generally results in a [...]
The ASA’s puritanical ban spree is a flagrant assault on free speech August 16, 2019 When the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) first announced that it would ban “gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence” in December 2017, I noted that crackdowns on adverts are often veiled attacks on free speech. The ads that the CAP and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) were flagging [...]
Why you should be worried about the rise of the Bank of Mum and Dad August 16, 2019 The yearning to own one’s home is as British as a piping hot cup of tea, cricket, or a traditional roast dinner, and the UK’s rates of ownership-occupancy have traditionally been among the highest in Europe. Unlike many traditions, this desire hasn’t been dented by the complexities of modern life either. One recent survey revealed [...]
The English way hurts our chances of success August 16, 2019 Amid the usual hubbub that accompanies A Level results day – the pictures of jumping young women, the advice for those who didn’t get the grades, the celebrities reliably informing us how unimportant they are anyway – came some sobering news. Modern languages are extremely unpopular as an area of study. Just 2,864 students in England took German A [...]