Here are all the predictions I got wrong in 2018 December 21, 2018 I should have given up making predictions in June 2017. Three months earlier, I had spoken at a conference on Brexit and suggested that the best way forward for Theresa May would be to call a snap election and strengthen her negotiating hand. I don’t know how the Prime Minister got word of my advice, [...]
DEBATE: As the year draws to a close, do we still have reasons to be cheerful? December 21, 2018 As the year draws to a close, do we still have reasons to be cheerful? Viscount Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist, says YES. Yes, we do. A lot went wrong in 2018 for a lot of people; but a lot more went right. Levels of absolute poverty, rates of infant mortality, age-adjusted death rates [...]
The immigration white paper is a case study in self-sabotage December 21, 2018 If the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is true, there are alternate worlds in which Ed Miliband beat David Cameron in 2015 and the Brexit referendum didn’t happen. In these worlds, the core of Wednesday’s immigration white paper would be a laudable liberalisation of non-EU migration to the UK. Instead, it’s a massive blow to our [...]
The best Christmas gift for rail users would be more competition and scrapping HS2 December 21, 2018 This week is set to be one of the busiest of the year for domestic travel. So, as London’s train stations are swamped with those endeavouring to get away for the their holidays, it’s worth dwelling on what would be the best Christmas present for travellers: a properly functioning rail system. Amid the whirlwind of [...]
Grounded: Gatwick airport remains shut down as Army brought in to deal with drone crisis December 20, 2018 The Army has been deployed to assist with the ongoing crisis at Gatwick airport, which has seen flights grounded since Wednesday because of drones flying near the runway. Drones which have grounded all flights at Gatwick Airport are “highly targeted” and have been “designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up [...]
British Gas owner Centrica wades into legal battle with regulator Ofgem over price cap December 20, 2018 Centrica, the owner of British Gas, this evening confirmed it will tomorrow kick start a legal battle with regulator Ofgem over the energy price cap soon to be introduced in the UK. The energy giant will apply for a judicial review of the regulator’s decision to change the dates within which wholesale prices were used [...]
What we all need for Christmas is a little perspective December 20, 2018 Perspective can be hard to find and even harder to appreciate. Having moulded my life into the rhythm of a daily print operation, looking further ahead than tomorrow has become a challenge. Life, as they say, comes at you fast. And if it's your job to catch as much of it as possible, filter it, prioritise [...]
Faroe Petroleum fights off Norwegian suitor DNO December 20, 2018 The advances of Norwegian oil and gas firm DNO have again been rebuffed by the board of Faroe Petroleum as the deadline for its hostile bid looms. However the suitor, which has been rejected by several major shareholders, has managed to convince some investors as it slowly builds its holding in Faroe Petroleum, disclosures show. [...]
Court orders ‘driving force’ behind RBS action group to hand over thousands of documents December 20, 2018 An action group company that was set up to sue the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) over its 2008 rights issue has been ordered to hand over approximately 19,000 documents relating to the litigation, a London court ruled on Wednesday. The RBoS Shareholders Action Group company (AGC) brought together RBS shareholders who successfully sued the [...]
Altria gets Juul for Yule as Marlboro maker bets big on vaping December 20, 2018 The maker of Marlboro cigarettes is bringing in yuletide with a $12.8bn (£10.1bn) deal for vape startup Juul. But the early Christmas present is more than a stocking filler Altria as it tries to tap into a rapidly growing market for e-cigarettes. The company’s 35 per cent stake is a major vote of confidence in [...]