Trump’s America is heading into twin coronavirus crises March 13, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has come to America. As of Thursday, there were 1,376 confirmed cases, up from just 221 a week before. As has been the case in every country that has seen an outbreak, calls for the government to act have been growing. And on Wednesday night, it did. In a televised address to [...]
The Covid-19 crisis can move us past the politics of easy answers March 13, 2020 The Black Death begat the end of feudalism and the start of the Renaissance. In the seventeenth century a golden age of architecture and science emerged from a London ravaged by fire and plague. Pestilence can be the cradle of creative destruction, and perhaps it can move us past the age of populism and the [...]
Spending like a drunken sailor does not create a thriving entrepreneurial economy March 13, 2020 “If I announced that Budget, the Tories would be jumping up and down,” shadow chancellor John McDonnell said with a smirk yesterday morning. Indeed, Wednesday’s Budget is the biggest giveaway of taxpayer money since 1992. Borrowing will increase by £125bn. Debt will reach a record high at £2 trillion. There was some good news for [...]
DEBATE: Do the chancellor’s reforms to entrepreneurs’ relief strike the right balance for founders? March 13, 2020 Do the chancellor’s reforms to entrepreneurs’ relief strike the right balance for founders? YES, says Mike Cherry, national chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses. Compromise is a fact of business life. Every dealmaker knows that it’s better to bend a little than break off negotiations. Entrepreneurs’ relief is a vital incentive that’s central to [...]
Brits with coronavirus symptoms urged to stay at home for seven days March 12, 2020 Brits with symptoms of coronavirus have been told to stay at home for seven days under new guidance outlined by the government. Anyone with a recent onset of a continuous cough or a high temperature has been told to self-isolate, even if the symptoms are mild. It comes as the UK entered the “delay” phase [...]
London mayoral election should be postponed, says Electoral Commission March 12, 2020 The 7 May mayor of London election should be postponed due to the spread of coronavirus, according to the Electoral Commission. The electoral watchdog wrote to the government today to say all May polls should be postponed “to mitigate the impact on voters, campaigners and electoral administrators”. This is in direct opposition to mayor of [...]
Coronavirus: Sturgeon confirms UK move to delay stage, but schools won’t be closed (yet) March 12, 2020 The UK has entered the delay phase of managing the coronavirus outbreak, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed. Scotland now has 60 confirmed cases of Covid-19. As a result of the move from contain to the second stage, Sturgeon said anyone showing symptoms of the virus – specifically a fever and a persistent cough [...]
London mayoral candidates suspend campaigning over Covid-19 March 12, 2020 Two mayor of London candidates have suspended campaigning due to coronavirus. Rory Stewart and Sian Berry announced today they would halt all ground campaigning and move their entire operations online. They have cancelled all events and have instructed supporters to not go door knocking. Berry said it was “no longer sensible” to continue and would [...]
Fisheries and finance March 12, 2020 | City Talk Two of the key flashpoints in the Brexit negotiations could have wide-reaching consequences for industry and the pound. In a recent webinar from moneycorp talk, economist Vicky Pryce highlighted the importance of fisheries and financial services to the Brexit negotiations. If we look at the numbers alone, it would seem that financial services should take [...]
Coronavirus: Sadiq Khan says closing Tube could make spread worse March 12, 2020 Sadiq Khan has said that closing schools and shutting down the Tube could make the spread of coronavirus worse. Independent mayoral candidate Rory Stewart has been leading calls for the government and Khan to be more aggressive in their response against Covid-19. In particular, he has called for schools to be shut down, public gatherings [...]