Jeremy Corbyn and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez love Modern Monetary Theory, but it is just the magic money tree again April 10, 2019 As the Brexit process unfolds, the possibility of a Corbyn government has become much more tangible. Last month, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, wrote to the Treasury to say that in power he would require them to “widen the range of economic theories and approaches in which its officials and those in the rest of [...]
MPs, stop trying to tout the demise of the secondary ticket market April 10, 2019 The secondary market for buying tickets to gigs, music festivals, and sports events is in a mess. Complaints about punters being ripped-off by ticket touts regularly attract critical publicity. Many promoters have taken to refusing entry to people if they believe that their tickets were obtained without their approval. Some events appear sold out within [...]
Debate: Should personal auto-enrolment pension contributions rise above the current level of five per cent? April 10, 2019 Should personal auto-enrolment pension contributions rise above the current level of five per cent? Yes – Samantha Seaton is chief executive of Moneyhub. The introduction of auto-enrolment has been hugely positive, and it has offered a great opportunity for people to better engage with their finances. The hard truth, however, is that even saving the minimum [...]
Sam Torrance: Rory McIlroy is my Masters favourite but Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods have strong claims too April 9, 2019 As the first Major of the year, the Masters is the tournament all players aim to be ready for and the shortlist of those expected to challenge at Augusta this week is a virtual who’s who of golf. Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods are among those with [...]
Reforming audit will not be easy, but the latest report might be a place to start April 9, 2019 Sir Winston Churchill’s 1942 speech about the second battle of El Alamein contained one of his most famous quotes. It was not, he said, the end – nor even the beginning of the end – but it was perhaps the end of the beginning. One could be forgiven for harbouring similar feelings about the long [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Back Pegasus to come flying home from a low draw April 9, 2019 AS ALWAYS, the Happy Valley race card is full of tightly-knit handicaps, with the draw, pace of the race and luck playing an important role in determining the winner. Past records over the last three seasons on the “A’ course, indicate horses drawn low have a big advantage over their wider drawn rivals, especially in [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Purton’s Dream of 100th winner set to Come True April 9, 2019 REIGNING champion jockey Zac Purton will surely arrive at Happy Valley today full of confidence that he can complete another century of winners. The 36-year-old Australian is now the dominant force in the HK jockey ranks and doesn’t appear to have been affected by the nervous nineties wobble that many sportsmen get. Purton is riding [...]
Trevor Steven: Transfer talk has hit Manchester United’s form ahead of Barcelona Champions League clash April 9, 2019 After an initial burst of adrenaline and positivity brought about by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replacing Jose Mourinho in the dugout, it feels as though Manchester United have gone backwards lately. A run of three defeats in four games since their heroics against Paris Saint-Germain, including losing twice to Wolves, has punctured the belief that Solskjaer [...]
Debate: Could financial services firms be better off basing themselves outside of London? April 9, 2019 Could financial services firms be better off basing themselves outside of the capital? Yes – Andy Mielczarek is chief executive at Chetwood Financial. Being based outside of London has such a raft of incentives that it seems like a no-brainer to set up outside of the capital. The overwhelming difference is operating costs. As we’re [...]
Technology, leadership, and change – business leaders must prepare for their next act April 9, 2019 "Everything flows, nothing stands still” (Heraclitus, 501 BC). Quite a lot has changed in 2,500 years, but that quote still rings true. We are surrounded by a flow of constant and accelerated change. And in such times of change, the art of decision-making is more significant than ever. While this added weight of responsibility might [...]