Don’t fear the SNP: The City can do business with Scottish nationalists May 12, 2015 When Parliament reconvenes next week, there will be many new faces among the throng of MPs being sworn in. For the first time, with no fewer than 56 representatives, the third largest party in the House of Commons will be the SNP. What will that mean for the City’s relationship with Westminster? On the one [...]
Polling errors and the financial crisis: Why groupthink is to blame for both May 12, 2015 The election is done and dusted, but many interesting questions remain. Was there a swing to the Conservatives at the very last minute, or was it indeed possible to foresee the victory in advance? Snippets are emerging which suggest that the electorate had made up their minds well before polling day. Rod Liddle, the entertaining [...]
London MPs must find a common voice – or see the capital overlooked May 12, 2015 The General Election has left the UK looking more politically divided than ever. The SNP dominates in Scotland, Labour in the Northern towns, and the Tories in the South of England. Only Wales and London have retained a somewhat variegated appearance and, with the decimation of the Lib Dems, even they have become less colourful. [...]
Weeks from running out of cash, can Greece only blame itself for failure to reach a deal? May 12, 2015 Ruth Lea is economic adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, says Yes As expected, there was no deal concerning Greece’s funds at Monday’s Eurogroup meeting. Since Syriza took power, Greece’s creditors have consistently and unambiguously stated that it must agree to significant reforms before they endorse the release of the remaining €7.2bn (£5.2bn) of the [...]
Beware under-insurance: Four in five people don’t have adequate coverage for their precious things May 12, 2015 Do you have adequate insurance for the contents of your home in the event of a disaster? Probably not. Research suggests four in every five high net worth individuals is under-insured, according to Oak Underwriting. Another study from Datamonitor put the figure slightly lower, at 70-75 per cent of wealthier homeowners – but still a [...]
Picking the best wine in a restaurant should be easy if you bear in mind these timeless tips May 12, 2015 How do you make sure you pick the right wine when the list looks like an encyclopaedia? Here are some easy tips to bear in mind for those of us who don’t have a PhD in oenology. DON’T DRINK THE HOUSE PLONK Restaurateurs apply the highest mark-ups to house wines, which tend to be [...]
Mix it up: World’s Best Bar finalist Nightjar has a new cocktail menu May 12, 2015 Nightjar has a new cocktail menu. For anyone who likes mixed drinks this is kind of a big deal. Nightjar is one of London’s – nay, the world’s – best bars. It’s a true destination venue and the only place in the country that successfully nails the speakeasy theme (not least because it whisks you [...]
Frida Kahlo’s life in things: New exhibition celebrates the most famous female artist of all time May 12, 2015 When Frida Kahlo wasn’t breaking ground as a leading member of the Mexican avant garde art movement, she was sleeping with Trotsky, befriending Picasso and entrancing the world with her androgynous charisma. Her life was every bit as earthily sexual as her paintings: one of the first artists to have a reputation that truly preceded [...]
The real secrets of Silicon Valley May 12, 2015 Beneath the magical veneer, there are business principles everyone can learn from SILICON Valley has become something of a mecca for talented entrepreneurs looking to make their mark. As a professor teaching them, I have had a ringside seat as some of the most driven businesspeople on the planet slug it out. Life here is [...]
Pietersen slams ECB betrayal May 12, 2015 ■ Batsman said to have lost £250,000 ■ Strauss offered him ODI adviser role ENGLAND exile Kevin Pietersen last night accused cricket bosses of betrayal after the maverick batsman was told he will not be considered for an international recall this summer. Pietersen believes he was promised a route back into the England reckoning if [...]
