Enough of Brexit, time for a Tory vision of modern Britain June 11, 2019 Theresa May’s premiership is almost over – but there is just time for one last undignified squabble. The Prime Minister reportedly hopes to spend a few billion on her key domestic priorities, in an attempt to add some black ink to the sea of red in her political ledger. But Philip Hammond is insisting on [...]
South Korea is shifting to the left, but pro-capitalists are fighting back June 10, 2019 At this year’s Cannes film festival, the South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was awarded the coveted Palme d’Or for his satire Parasite. The film is an attack on capitalism: a poor family insinuate themselves as servants into a much richer one. One of the film’s core messages is that it is almost impossible to bridge [...]
By working together, we can clean up London’s air quality and stop pollution June 10, 2019 With state visits and political leadership battles dominating the news, it’s unsurprising that the environment – particularly air quality – isn’t at the top of the agenda. But Londoners are determined to see a major clean-up of the capital’s air, and we can’t afford to take our foot off the pedal. Much of central London [...]
D-Day offers some perspective for anyone consumed with the current ‘national crisis’ June 7, 2019 On Monday, I took part in BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week, which this week focused on the concept of a national crisis – and how countries get out of it. Academic and author Jared Diamond’s new book Upheaval draws parallels between how an individual deals with a personal crisis to how nations overcome them. [...]
DEBATE: President Donald Trump’s state visit faced protests in London. Is it possible to separate the man from the office? June 7, 2019 As people protest Donald Trump’s state visit, is it possible to separate the man from the office? YES, says Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle. Heads of state and prime ministers, as their name tags at international conferences suggest, represent their states, not themselves. International relations, particularly in a complex multi-polar world, require that we [...]
Corruption, dirty cash, and money laundering – we must shine a spotlight on crooks hiding in the City June 7, 2019 The OECD ranks Britain as one of the best places to start and grow a business. We’re home to five of the top 10 fastest-growing businesses in Europe because people know we’re an open, liberal, free-trading economy where new businesses can be created easily, and where startups are treated fairly, even when they take on [...]
Philip Hammond’s virtue signalling on low pay is hypocritical June 7, 2019 Philip Hammond may soon be out of a job. In fact, I would be very surprised if he remains chancellor of the Exchequer for more than a day or two after our new Prime Minister is chosen. Hammond is fond of reminding his critics that his demise has been predicted before. Yet while the Tory [...]
The world needs minds of all kinds, so neurodiversity is crucial to business success June 7, 2019 Being on the neurodivergent spectrum is often perceived as a weakness. But given that those with neurodiverse brains are some of the world’s most creative, productive, and forward-thinking people, this is something that should instead be embraced as a real opportunity. An Acas study estimates that one in seven people is neurodivergent, which simply [...]
We must not forget the value of the US special relationship June 7, 2019 75 years ago, Allied forces mounted Operation Overlord. The largest military operation ever attempted began the process of freeing the European continent from the jackboot of Nazi tyranny. So familiar are we with the general story of D-Day that it is easy to forget some of the extraordinary details. By June 1944, more than two [...]
Theresa May, take comfort from knowing that leaders change all the time in business June 7, 2019 Two weeks ago, as Theresa May stood outside Downing Street to announce her resignation, you would have been hard-pressed not to feel a degree of sympathy, regardless of political affiliation. But the truth is that what can look like a bruising resignation is sometimes exactly what’s needed for an organisation to move on and – [...]