Memo to the Prime Minister: How you can save the Union from destruction May 10, 2015 To: Prime Minister David Cameron Re: Saving Scotland Mr Prime Minister, let me congratulate you on your famous victory, which almost none of us – including myself – saw coming. You have accomplished the almost impossible, securing an increase in parliamentary representation (of 24 seats) for an incumbent party after a full term [...]
Referendum opponents must now get behind the push for EU reform May 10, 2015 Not many people predicted Thursday’s monumental shift in the political tectonics, least of all the people paid to make the predictions, the pollsters. But there was one politician who foresaw the total collapse of the Liberal Democrats that contributed so largely to the Tory majority we have today. The result means that very same politician [...]
Twin threats of Brexit and Scoxit will mar a good result for the City May 10, 2015 “Were you up for Balls?” Or more likely, “were you up in time for Balls?” Reminiscent of “were you up for Portillo in 1997?”, former shadow chancellor Ed Balls’s loss of his seat was one of the most memorable moments in an astonishing General Election which will have far reaching implications for the country. It [...]
After an utterly disastrous election, is there a future for the Labour party as a political force? May 10, 2015 Chris Rumfitt, chief executive of Corporate Reputation Consulting, says Yes. There is no understating the scale of Labour’s defeat last week. Almost wiped out in Scotland, the party fared little better in England, where it barely made inroads into the Tories – even against the low water mark of 2010. But Labour can bounce back [...]
A class of her own: Anthemis founder Amy Nauiokas talks gender and the future of banks May 10, 2015 What makes someone exceptional? Being chief executive of Barclays Stockbrokers by 34? Heading up four major departments at Cantor Fitzgerald in the wake of 9/11? Or setting up and running both a digital financial services investment and advisory firm and a media production company? These are just the highlights of Anthemis and Archer Gray founder [...]
Investec Comment: Why the future is bright for SME finance May 10, 2015 NO ONE needs to be told that it’s been a difficult few years for small businesses seeking finance, and economic recovery has done little to change this picture. The Bank of England’s latest Trends in Lending report found that the annual rate of growth in the stock of lending to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) [...]
Joanne Moore: The lady blazing a trail as the only female master gin distiller in the world May 10, 2015 Distilling alcohol has remained largely a male affair, which is odd, since women have a greater number of tastebuds than men and are better at discerning flavour. But Joanne Moore has risen through a 20-year career in ginmaking to become the only female master distiller in the world. Moore had no intention of becoming a [...]
How backing rugby helps to build a global head of steam May 10, 2015 Heathrow Express’s Fraser Brown looks to players’ speed on the field to win the high-speed rail link more conversions IF YOU are a lover of statistics, you’ll love this opening paragraph. Of the 50m passengers who arrive at Heathrow airport every year, around 20m travel immediately into central London. Of that 20m, nearly a third [...]
Tobago: An eco-lodge is a great way to experience this Caribbean isle May 10, 2015 “Trinidad and Tobago” suggests two islands of roughly equal size, but the former is 16 times bigger than the latter, its population 1.3 million compared to Tobago’s 60,000. As is often the case in nations divided across two separate land masses, stereotypes dominate each side’s thinking about the other. Ask a Trinidadian about Tobago: “lazy, [...]
48 hours in… Poznań May 10, 2015 WHERE TO STAY City Solei Boutique Hotel features 22 individually designed rooms based on cities from around the world, from Venice to Beijing. It’s stylish, affordable and a great spot from which to explore the city. citysolei.pl WHERE TO EAT Racja Mięsa is a bit like a Polish St John, with bare walls and a [...]
