Farewell to Theresa May, the most ineffectual Prime Minister in modern history May 28, 2019 When Theresa May departs from Number 10 for the final time, her portrait will be added to the collection which snakes down the main staircase. It is the ritualised ending for all Prime Ministers, good, bad or indifferent. It will be hard for her to walk down those stairs without thinking of her legacy, and [...]
As Brexit rages, the European project unravels before our eyes May 28, 2019 While the London foreign policy commentariat obsesses over the pathetic soap opera that is Brexit, it almost entirely misses the obvious and strategically vital point next door: the European project is in irretrievable decline, becoming increasingly peripheral to any serious global geopolitical discussion. The just-concluded European elections, which have underlined the rise of populism and [...]
DEBATE: Is the government right to ban single-use plastics like straws in a bid to reduce ocean pollution? May 28, 2019 Is the government right to ban single-use plastics like straws in a bid to reduce ocean pollution? Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party, says YES. The government’s ban on straws, drinks stirrers and plastic-stalked cotton buds is an important development in the right direction. It should be supported, but on the understanding that it [...]
Narendra Modi’s India can be a valuable partner for Britain in tumultuous times May 28, 2019 Last week, we witnessed two momentous elections, and two nations at a crossroads. In the UK, the country engaged in a strategic game of votes in the European elections, and Theresa May met her inevitable fate as the latest victim of Brexit. In India, Narendra Modi won the largest democratic election to ever take place, [...]
Gaps between tenancies can be a real money sink. Here’s how to avoid them May 24, 2019 Most experienced landlords will know that the biggest real losses come from long periods between tenancies, where they can end up haemorrhaging money if the presentation and marketing of their property isn’t well managed. The areas that are often the cause of these voids are: Difficulty in access for viewings Poor presentation Too high a [...]
We must learn from past mistakes to mitigate the impact of the next financial crisis May 24, 2019 It’s sometimes hard to believe that the global financial crisis happened more than a decade ago, and that back in 2008 the world of banking and finance was headline news on a daily basis. Read more: Jury discharged in fraud trial of senior Barclays executives Political and technological developments have changed the world immeasurably since [...]
DEBATE: Should the government nationalise British Steel in a bid to save it? May 24, 2019 Should the government nationalise British Steel in a bid to save it? Faiza Shaheen, director of the Centre for Labour & Social Studies, says YES. British Steel is not just emblematic of our great industrial past, but also fundamental to our green future. Why? Because steel and related metals will be needed for new railways, wind [...]
The next Northern Rock? Metro Bank has had a troubled week May 24, 2019 Could Metro Bank be the next Northern Rock? That’s not a question that any banker wants to hear, but in this case, some self-reflection seems necessary for the young bank. This last week has been nothing if not turbulent for Metro, the UK’s most shorted stock, with conspiracies circulating that it had fallen on hard [...]
The Mifid II reality has been the exact opposite of its noble aims May 24, 2019 The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) II, which brought in sweeping regulatory reform to financial markets in the EU, was intended to improve competition and transparency. More than a year on from its introduction, it has become clear that it has widely missed the mark. In the wake of the financial crash, improved regulation [...]
Ollie Phillips: Don’t expect a shock – Saracens and Exeter are streets ahead of their Premiership play-off rivals May 23, 2019 The Premiership semi-finals are upon us this weekend and it is very much a case of challengers taking on heavy favourites. Saracens and Exeter have been dominant over the past few seasons and it will take a mammoth effort from Gloucester or Northampton to reach the final. Saracens have won three of the last four [...]