The Conservative party needs to rediscover its economic way March 12, 2019 For most people, the Conservative’s 2015 “long-term economic plan” is now a distant memory. But as someone who was deeply immersed in that election campaign, I still sometimes wake up at night reciting its contents. Though much mocked for its repetition, the plan was more than just a catchphrase. From deficit reduction and tax cuts [...]
30 years since the dawn of the World Wide Web, Britain is still at the heart of tech success March 12, 2019 It has been 30 years since Sir Tim Berners-Lee sat down at his desk at Cern and changed the world with a humble sounding document called “Information Management: A Proposal”. The memo, piloting a system to allow computers to share information via an emerging technology called hypertext, did not catch many people’s eyes as it [...]
Deal or no deal, let’s make the UK the most attractive place for business March 12, 2019 What happens if there’s no Brexit deal? Over the past year, we’ve had various answers to this question – most ranging from the alarming to the apocalyptic. But while we’ve heard an awful lot about the problems, we haven’t heard much about solutions. That’s why our think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, has just [...]
Women should not have to change the City alone March 12, 2019 Last Friday we celebrated International Women’s Day, which provides a terrific opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come towards an equal and fair society, but also how far we have to go. I appreciate that some may disregard an Oxbridge-educated, white, male Conservative politician talking about gender equality. But it is beholden on all [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Apple’s can prevent Buveur D’Air winning for a third time March 11, 2019 WHEN BUVEUR D’AIR routed the highly-regarded Samcro on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle back in December, a third Champion Hurdle victory appeared almost inevitable. That was his 11th straight win over hurdles since switching back from chasing and the big young pretender had failed to lay a glove on him. However, the shock defeat that [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Glen a Forsa to be reckoned with as he chases Arkle glory March 11, 2019 THIS year’s renewal of the Racing Post Arkle Chase (2.10pm) has a far more wide-open look to it than we have been used to in recent seasons. Most bookmakers are struggling to find a clear favourite with four horses all battling it out to be sent off the market leader. When you consider that six [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Klassical Dream could be made for the Supreme but I’m loving Angels instead March 11, 2019 FINALLY the waiting is over. After what has been a peculiar jumps season weather-wise, the tapes are set to go up for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30pm this afternoon. For the second year running, the Festival is going to start on soft ground following heavy rain in Gloucestershire over the past week [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Side with a couple of long shots in the Close Brothers March 11, 2019 ONLY two favourites have been successful in the 14 renewals of this trappy 20-runner Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (4.50pm), so tread carefully. The three Irish raiders that head the betting are all hugely respected, but I’m not in a hurry to take a single-figure price in such a wide-open looking contest. Riders Onthe Storm [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Ballyward can be another star for Mullins in the four-miler March 11, 2019 HAVING a leading amateur on board your selection in the National Hunt Novices’ Chase (5.30pm) is a huge advantage and Irishman Derek O’Connor wouldn’t be out of place in among the professional ranks. He rides leading fancy Ok Corral for Nicky Henderson and has a great record in this race having won it twice in [...]
Forget Brexit, corporate debt is a bigger issue March 11, 2019 As a few of you might have been told many times already, today is the latest Brexit D-Day for the UK, and for Theresa May in particular. Now, despite the fact that I am – at the moment that you are reading this – down on a chilly College Green in Westminster reporting on the latest [...]