Britain must try to sail beyond the Brexit debate in order to find the stars September 2, 2019 Sadly, many of the great quotations in history are simply not accurate. One of my favourite apocryphal quotes is (wrongly) credited to Sir Francis Drake, supposedly written just before the intrepid explorer set off on the Golden Hind on his dazzling circumnavigation of the globe. Drake is supposed to have said: “Disturb us, Lord, when [...]
As others look inward, the City is keeping its eye on the world September 2, 2019 Domestic and international politics, as well as the latest developments in the Brexit saga, are set to dominate the headlines in the coming weeks and months. While we cannot simply put the Brexit question to one side, we must remember that it is just one – admittedly important – part of a bigger picture: the [...]
The threat of no-deal is key to Johnson’s strategy September 2, 2019 Though it has been said many times during the UK’s ongoing Brexit drama, this week really is shaping up to be the most tumultuous we have seen in recent years. Boris Johnson’s lawful but controversial decision to suspend parliament during the run-up to 31 October has thrown rebel MPs’ plans to thwart a no-deal Brexit [...]
London’s bursting airports could harm the tourist trade August 30, 2019 London’s crown as Europe’s top tourist city will continue to shine despite Brexit, as it has done throughout our nation’s history. With its exciting mixture of high and low culture, history and (Tate) modernism – as well as fantastic food that has dispelled the country’s undeserved fish-and chips-obsessed reputation – it is no surprise that [...]
Trade is being weaponised – and it’s driving the G7 apart when we need the alliance most August 30, 2019 In the recent past, the G7 has largely been a talking shop for the leaders of the world’s biggest economies, who gather for a couple of days before sending out a communique generally agreeing that the western consensus should be maintained, and that globalisation is a good thing. Last year, all that changed. Who can [...]
Time to ditch the mindless tribalism of outdated politics August 30, 2019 Our politics is broken. In fact, for decades, the system has been anchored on the same unchanging institutions and cultures. Parliament. Whitehall. Political parties. Much of what passes for modern politics would be instantly recognisable to William Gladstone or Benjamin Disraeli. All around us, things are changing. The disruptive forces of technology are tearing through [...]
Debate: Should we be worried that some over-55s are using their pensions to help younger family members buy homes? August 30, 2019 Should we be worried that some over-55s are using their pensions to help younger family members buy homes? Yes – Helen Morrissey is a pension specialist at Royal London. While it is natural for people to want to help their children get a foot on the housing ladder, the worry is that they could damage [...]
Uber’s quiet cabs are sapping our social skills August 30, 2019 Uber’s recent move to offer passengers a “quiet preferred” option sparked a lively debate online, with some praising the move and others sharing stories of overly chatty drivers disturbing their journeys. Others bemoaned the change, branding it “dehumanising” for the drivers and “entitled”. Whatever side of the fence you sit on, there’s no denying that [...]
Banks aren’t keeping up with the rise of the intangible economy August 30, 2019 Innovation is the key to growing the economy and creating prosperity. It creates new industries, transforms old ones, and often generates well-paid jobs. Today, innovation usually relies on the investment in and the growth of intangible assets, such as software, data, networks, and design. But the financial system has failed to keep pace with innovation. [...]
How to limit reputational damage after a data breach August 29, 2019 The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been with us for over a year. It was greeted with a tremendous fuss, with the threat of fines running into the millions. Organisations ran around like headless chickens while their lawyers drafted privacy notices and policies, and proffered advice on what to do about breaches. The Information [...]