From Corbyn’s win and Scottish independence revisited to Apple’s iOS 9 release and Rugby World Cup: Here’s what got us talking this week

Prince Harry gave up his seat to a pensioner. Left-wingers were outed as being potty-mouthed. And all around London, buildings are opening their doors to complete strangers.

 

Although it was widely expected, we were still left reeling when Jeremy Corbyn became the new Labour leader. Then it appeared we weren't the only ones surprised: Corbyn has lurched from one drama to another in what appears to be a badly-prepared first week in charge. His efforts at putting together his shadow cabinet apparently resembled something from The Thick of It, and he came under fire for failing to give women any of the top jobs within the new elite while Labour's erstwhile business donors got jittery to say the least.

 

He made no friends in the media – one journalist was hospitalised after a fracas with his driver – ruined PMQs (for some), and after upsetting half the nation during the Battle of Britain commemoration, then wound the rest of the country up by flip-flopping on the subject of “God Save the Queen”. He even managed to raise eyebrows among the scientific community when it emerged he believes homeopathy works. 

 

It's all got so much that bookies forecast Corbyn will last just 18 months and some have opened the books on which Labour MP will be the first to defect  –  leaving Lib Dems, Tories and Kippers alike hanging by the telephone. 

 

 

This week marked the one-year anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon left us in no doubt about her view of the situation, telling David Cameron he was “living on borrowed time”. The people will decide, she proclaimed. But current polling suggests the SNP really should not be confident about its chances should another vote come around any time soon.  

 

One of the big questions a year on is how Scotland's economy would have been faring in a world wher the oil price has tanked so dramatically. This article claims that it would have plunged the nation into a deep depression but there is an alternative view that suggests it could have actually worked in its favour.  

 

 

 

Apple released its iOS 9 software update this week and while it promised much there were a few bugs, with several complaints that it wasn't working for some peoeple. There were also problems with the Apple Watch update. 

 

But it was like water off a duck's back for Apple, which is on track for another record-breaking device launch when the iPhone 6s comes out next week. 

 

And it's just as well it's so in demand, because we learned this week that Londoners have to work a good deal longer than New Yorkers to be able to afford an iPhone. Still, it could be worse: people in Kiev have to work for 13 weeks.

 

 

Well, it's not the UK. But we are actually pretty high on the list.  

 

 

The Rugby World Cup has begun, and we’ve got six weeks of international grudge matches to enjoy. Alongside our regular Rugby Business column, we have spoken to many rugby greats, to get their thoughts about who will come out on top. 

 

Martin Johnson told us why this tournament define Stuart Lancaster's England team, whatever happens.

 

Meanwhile, Jason Robinson is confident England's players, like Anthony Watson and Sam Burgess, can rise to the occasion. Here’s why.

 

And in an exclusive interview, New Zealand flanker Liam Messam has shrugged off the All Blacks’ favourites tag. "We’re very humble in what we do".

 

Not to put a damper on things, though, but for all the excitement, this opinion piece discusses why the economic impact likely to be limited. 

 

Companies need to radically reconnect with society, and with some urgency. So says Lord Browne, whose new book Connect looks at the impact failing to punish wrongdoing has had on sentiment towards business. We spoke with him about what exactly industry should be doing to win back hearts and minds. 

 

From managing legacy issues to looking ahead at the third age of finance, this article looks at the rise of crowdfunding and why banks are now seriously taking note.  

 

Artificial Intelligence may have some of us worried about our jobs and others of us fretting over a Terminator-style future; but what about your children's Christmas presents? A new Barbie prototype is scheduled for release in November. How do you feel about the doll that wants to learn about your child?

 

And in a week in which ad-blocking became all the rage, this Awl article asks what happens once that revenue stream gets cut off too.