By: Christian May

Editor-in-Chief Christian May is the Editor-in-Chief of City AM. He served in the role from 2015 to 2020 and returned in 2024. He writes the daily Editor's Letter for print and online and releases The Week in Business roundup video each Thursday. He is particularly interested in the health of London's capital markets, economic policy, politics, regulation and business activity in the City of London. He regularly appears in the broadcast media and presents a daily Business News slot on LBC at 0730, Monday to Friday. Find Christian on X and LinkedIn.

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All 544 Articles

The ‘disaster capitalism’ Brexit conspiracy that goes right to the very top

September 13, 2019

Confirmation bias: the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories. We’re probably all guilty of it in our private thoughts, but the sin is magnified when it results in an “exclusive” piece of journalism making outrageous claims about corruption and market manipulation at the very top of government. But [...]
It’s tempting, but the devil’s in the details

September 12, 2019

The Stockholm Stock Exchange, the Toronto Exchange, Germany’s Deutsche Boerse, Australia’s Macquarie and the American giants Nasdaq and ICE have all danced the dance with the London Stock Exchange at one time or another. Deutsche Boerse has been the most persistent and the Americans have kept an eye on Paternoster Square. And who can blame them? [...]
If nothing else, the Lords at least offers some good debate

September 6, 2019

Watching a debate in the House of Lords can lift the spirits. Admittedly, this isn’t always the case. After all, the place is so rammed with political cast-offs and the dregs of quangoland that following its proceedings can often feel like a punishment. However, during moments of great constitutional or legal significance it is to [...]
Brace yourself, this is going to get ugly

September 4, 2019

Jacob Rees-Mogg described last night’s successful attempt by MPs to seize control of today’s parliamentary activity as “constitutionally improper” – which is as close as he gets to a foul-mouthed outburst. As leader of the House of Commons it is his job to navigate legislation through parliament, but he has been temporarily sidelined in favour [...]
The threat of no-deal is key to Johnson’s strategy

September 2, 2019

Though it has been said many times during the UK’s ongoing Brexit drama, this week really is shaping up to be the most tumultuous we have seen in recent years. Boris Johnson’s lawful but controversial decision to suspend parliament during the run-up to 31 October has thrown rebel MPs’ plans to thwart a no-deal Brexit [...]
Short-sellers raise eyebrows but they have their place

August 9, 2019

Here’s a reasonable statement: “For markets to work properly and efficiently, all parties need access to accurate information.” This claim can be found in the ‘About Us’ section of the website of Boatman Capital Research, but the philosophy does not extend to providing information about their own identity. Boatman Capital, the anonymous short-seller research outfit, [...]
The City is a meritocracy, but that only works if everyone’s given a go

August 2, 2019

Sajid Javid has been culture secretary, business secretary, home secretary and now chancellor. In all that time I’ve only ever heard him give one great speech. It was, as luck would have it, at the 2015 City A.M. Awards. In Westminster and on matters of policy and politics, Javid’s delivery is invariably uninspiring – even [...]
Johnson’s critics will be confounded by the new PM’s liberalism

July 26, 2019

There’s a good chance that things will go badly for Boris. He barely has a majority, his party is divided and MPs from across the house are priming their parliamentary grenades to thwart and disrupt him. On the other hand, it is at least possible that he gets a Brexit deal passed and triggers what [...]
Boris sings an uplifting tune but the mood music is more sinister

July 26, 2019

Put aside for a moment the enormity of the challenges facing the new Prime Minister and ignore, briefly, the vulnerability of his government and the divisions over Brexit. Instead, permit yourself to enjoy the sight and sound of a leader who actually dares to exude optimism. Boris Johnson has pledged to sweep away the “doomsters [...]
Could Jacob Rees-Mogg help Boris Johnson to revolutionise our planning system?

July 22, 2019

Boris Johnson hasn’t exactly broken a sweat in this leadership election. He’s ducked debates, declined interviews and appeared generally unenthusiastic about subjecting himself to too much scrutiny. His defenders may point out that he’s participated in a large number of hustings for party members, but these have been treated as occasions to give his supporters [...]

The Masters delivers food now, and it’s desire wrapped in identity

The Masters delivers food now, and it’s desire wrapped in identity

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

By: Christian May

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