Brexit hoped to heal the UK, but instead it leaves wounds that will not easily be closed April 9, 2019 The other day, my three-year-old son gave me a geography lesson. Him: “This is Battersea Park.” Me: “That’s right.” Him: “And Battersea Park is in London?” Me: “Yes, and we’re also in England and in Britain.” At which point he shook his head. “No,” he insisted. “Just London.” Political analysis obviously runs in the family. [...]
Government should choose outsourcing contracts based on the quality, not cost April 9, 2019 If and when the Brexit debate ever ends, politicians will return to the challenge of improving domestic politics. And one of the main questions will be the role of private companies in delivering public services. Overall, the government spends almost £300bn per year – or around a third of its total budget – on partnerships [...]
Social Media: Who watches the watchers? April 8, 2019 Social media, and especially its archetype, Facebook, has had a difficult run of publicity over the past few years. The 2016 US presidential election and the rise of “fake news” certainly did it no favours, and the Cambridge Analytica scandal which came in its wake made things worse still. Facebook’s origins as a benign thread [...]
After Gatwick, how do we prevent future drone chaos? April 8, 2019 Last year’s disruption at Gatwick airport is estimated to have cost over £50m. The incident points to the urgent need for significant action to ensure that drones are used safely and securely in the UK. The government has begun to regulate the sector: it is currently an offence to endanger aircraft, drone pilots are not permitted [...]
If Brexit has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be bold when it comes to world trade April 8, 2019 A little over two years ago, the first direct rail freight service from China to the UK rolled into Barking’s 165-year old station to much fanfare. Of course, the completion of this mammoth 18-day, 7,500-mile trip from the Chinese city of Yiwu marked the moment that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached the UK. [...]
Let’s not let rage become the prevailing story of our nation April 8, 2019 Public morality, but private depravity – a time when keeping up appearances on the outside was very much the order of the day. You have to wonder if Brexit has turned this Victorian attitude decisively on its head. No one watching the daily media scrum on College Green could argue that today’s national conversation is [...]
Sadiq Khan’s ill-conceived pollution plan only threatens London’s push to go green April 8, 2019 From today, all private hire drivers in London will have to pay the daily £11.50 congestion charge when driving in central London. This is an enormous financial burden for some of the city’s lower paid workers – costing nearly £3,000 a year for a driver earning around £25,000. It's also hugely unfair for operators, many [...]
Legal Q&A: Major League Soccer’s trademark dispute with Inter Milan over David Beckham’s team name April 7, 2019 Nora Fowler of intellectual property law firm EIP explains the ongoing legal dispute between Major League Soccer and Italian football club Inter Milan over the proposed name of David Beckham's MLS franchise. What is the dispute? The dispute relates to the right to use and register the term INTER as a trademark for soccer related entertainment [...]
Sponsoring women’s football isn’t just a good look for brands – it’s a lucrative opportunity too April 7, 2019 It’s impossible to avoid the conversation around women’s football at the moment – and particularly so in the world of marketing advocating for the opportunities it presents. Before jumping in head first, brands need to think about why they want to get involved. But the bigger question is why sponsorship of women’s football presents commercial [...]
Opinion: It’s about time gas boilers were axed, but developers need to be investing in smart, sustainable technologies from the outset April 5, 2019 In his recent Spring Statement, the Chancellor announced that from 2025 newly built homes will not be connected to the gas grid, meaning that gas boiler installation will be a thing of the past. It is good to see the government taking on board the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change, which called for [...]