By: Chris Hayward

Chris Hayward is the Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, in which capacity he acts as a spokesperson, political leader and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. With over 40 years’ experience founding and leading businesses across aviation and construction, he combines commercial leadership with a lifelong commitment to public service at both local and national levels

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How the square mile is helping make London one of world’s the best cities

Opinion

London has been named a 2026 Laureate of one of the world’s most prominent awards in urban planning and city development, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, says Chris Hayward March 2026 has proved an exemplary month for the City of London’s urban built environment. After a successful pitch to global investors and developers [...]
Championing Inclusion in the City: A Conversation with Debbie Crosbie

Destination City

Women’s History Month gives us a moment to celebrate the remarkable contributions women make across the City of London and reflect on the ways we are making to ensure the City is an inclusive and welcoming destination for the next generation of talent. The City’s strength has always come from its ability to attract people [...]
Britain must get competitive or lose a generation of business leaders

Opinion

Taxation is not an ideological battleground but a matter of national interest. If global rivals such as New York or Singapore offer stronger incentives, it is just inevitable that operations and individuals will follow, says Chris Hayward Restoring economic growth has become the defining challenge of our national life. And against a backdrop of geopolitical [...]

MIPIM: The Cannes real estate conference shaping the London skyline

March 2, 2026

The City of London Corporation's presence at MIPIM is as strategic as it is promotional, and will help shape the City skyline.
City chairman: Reports of London’s death have been greatly exaggerated

February 16, 2026

Despite many claims to the contrary, what's happening in London today is not stagnation, but renaissance writes Chris Hayward.
The City is leading the charge against fraud

February 2, 2026

Fraud now accounting for 44 per cent of all UK crime, but the City is fighting back, says Chris Hayward Last week marked a generational milestone for policing – and one we must get right. In publishing her long-awaited White Paper, home secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a blueprint to modernise policing in England and [...]
Vibrance festival to light up City evenings this January

January 21, 2026

The City of London’s built environment – its streets, squares and landmarks – reflects nearly two thousand years of change and reinvention. Between 17:30 and 20:30 on January 29 and 30, the City will transform once more, with the award-winning Guildhall Production Studio presenting a brand-new – and free – festival of light and sound – [...]
Make your lunch break count: free learning and culture in the City

January 21, 2026

Setting a New Year’s resolution is one of those time-honoured traditions. Indeed, it’s a ritual that can be traced some 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonian times, with citizens celebrating the New Year during a 12-day festival called Akitu. One common New Year’s resolution was the return of borrowed farm equipment. While our goals may [...]
This is the City’s message for Davos

January 19, 2026

The UK is committed to advancing shared priorities at the World Economic Forum, showcasing the City of London’s role as a leading global financial centre through key policy initiatives, leadership in green finance and AI, and significant economic contributions to the country, says Chris Hayward As 2026 gets underway, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty continue [...]
London’s future will be determined by choices, not rhetoric

January 5, 2026

2026 will be the year the City moves from post-Brexit design to delivery, says Chris Hayward As the new year begins, London’s position as a leading global financial centre is often framed in binary terms: rise or decline. That is no bad thing. Competition sharpens performance, and financial centres that assume their leading position rarely [...]

From jet fuel to fertiliser – economic pain is heading West

Bath sell-out bright spark as Champions Cup attendances fall

Barbican Centre: the brutalist landmark weaving art into everyday London life.

By: Chris Hayward

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