Here’s some food for thought: The courgette crisis is no joke – the UK’s food security is at stake February 17, 2017 News of the so-called courgette crisis has been greeted with a certain amount of mirth in the press. The image of middle-class diners looking lost without their spiralized suppers after an uncommonly soggy winter in Spain was never going to provoke an outpouring of sympathy. However, a new report commissioned by Morrisons today suggests we [...]
Samsung boss Lee Jae-yong formally arrested by South Korean police over corruption allegations February 17, 2017 Samsung boss Lee Jae-yong has been arrested by police overnight over his role in corruption allegations, but the the mobile phone behemoth promises the truth will be revealed if Lee’s case goes to court. The news caps a torrid time for the world’s largest manufacturer of smart phones and South Korea’s biggest company, after the disastrous roll [...]
We need a nuclear weapon to end bad behaviour in business: Revoking limited liability February 17, 2017 Slowly but surely a consensus is forming around some of Theresa May’s proposals for reform of corporate governance. In executive remuneration this means a recognition of the need for simpler structures and an end to complex share schemes. In the matter of corporate relations with stakeholders, it means a concerted effort to beef up Section 172 [...]
A victory for Marine Le Pen in France could spell the end of the European Union February 17, 2017 As the Brexit Bill’s passage through Parliament in the coming weeks appears a foregone conclusion, the UK’s timeline for invoking Article 50 has become clearer – but what remains unclear is the extent to which Brexit is mobilising voters in other EU member states. Indeed, from an economic standpoint, the UK’s inconsequential post-referendum performance poses a [...]
Theresa May is scared to admit that the unreformed NHS is crumbling around her – Copeland shows the cold reality February 17, 2017 Anything can happen when faith comes under fire. Take the classic tale of Peter the Apostle, who denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed; and in a more modern twist, take Prime Minister May, who this week managed to dodge stating her support for West Cumberland Hospital’s maternity services four times over the course [...]
The Lloyd’s of London lunchtime drinking ban will backfire: As a recovering alcoholic, I should know February 17, 2017 The announcement this week that Lloyd’s of London has banned booze during office hours adds to the slightly Orwellian atmosphere currently infiltrating 2017. It smacks of a nanny-state approach, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and as a recovering alcoholic myself, I don’t think it’ll work. Why not? Because you don’t change behaviour, let [...]
As loss-making Snapchat sets its valuation at up to $22.2bn, would you have to be mad to invest in its IPO? February 17, 2017 Chris Beauchamp, a senior market analyst at IG, says Yes. As the latest tech IPO to come to market, Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, offers the usual combination of coolness, hype and dubious fundamentals. The IG grey market in Snap continues to suggest that the stock will see a pop on the first day [...]
Morrisons starts search for more local food suppliers February 17, 2017 Morrisons is looking for the "Innocent Smoothies of tomorrow" in a bid to get more local food to their shoppers. The supermarket wants to recruit more than 200 new suppliers across England, Scotland and Wales over the next year. To find Britain's best local food suppliers, Morrisons will invite foodmakers to pitch their products at a series [...]
Industry calls for corporate governance clampdown for private firms to avoid BHS-style scandals February 17, 2017 Business groups are urging the government to strengthen corporate governance rules for privately-run firms, or risk a repeat of high-profile scandals like last year's collapse of BHS. The UK's private companies are currently not held to the same set of standards as the country's listed companies. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is [...]
Editor’s Notes: Lloyd’s has bigger things to worry about than staff nipping out for a drink February 16, 2017 When I started working at a Westminster PR firm eight years ago, I had to learn how to drink at lunch. It wasn’t exactly a hardship. We were a small office (just three people when I joined) and every day we would decamp to the Italian next-door and see off a few bottles of red. [...]