The City must not stand by in the face of dirty money on our streets and in our banks March 7, 2022 Today I and others from across the City of London will gather to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as its national flag flies above us. It is now over a week since Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine began and the deeply distressing scenes being played out across the country have shocked us [...]
We must stand united with Ireland and our European partners in this time of crisis February 28, 2022 At a time when tensions across Europe are at the highest they’ve been for a generation, it is critical for like-minded allies to work together in close partnership. That will be my message when I cross the Irish Sea and return to my roots in Dublin this week. Strengthening financial and professional services links following [...]
International travel will never be fully replaced by Zoom meetings for business February 14, 2022 As the worst of the Omicron wave subsides, travel is starting up once more, with countries dropping many of the most stringest restrictions. Many of us associate this with holidays and family reuniones, but it is also an important vector for business. This is especially true for an open economy like the UK’s which, renowned [...]
London must not rest on its laurels, it needs strong access to talent to continue to thrive January 29, 2022 The past twelve months have been one of the biggest tests that London has undergone in recent memory, with the twin challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic leading some cynics to doubt the capital’s future as a world leading business hub. Even though streets across the City and central London fell quiet at times [...]
It’s time: diversity must drive innovation within our regions and our organisations January 17, 2022 With the Government’s eagerly awaited levelling up strategy due to be published later this month, the term itself has become a buzzword. A recent YouGov poll found more than half of people did not understand what levelling up means in practice. If the UK is to retain its position as an economic powerhouse, it is [...]
The present might look gloomy, but a brighter future awaits the City January 4, 2022 The start of the year is usually a time for optimism, resolutions, and new beginnings. But many people across the City are also experiencing a case of the January blues now that the festive period is behind us. The Omicron variant continues to drive record Covid-19 case numbers across the country. London is particularly affected. [...]
Private capital must be focused on building an economy as inclusive as it is sustainable December 13, 2021 The financial sector must rise to the challenge of harnessing private capital for public good. The question of how to do it is a pressing one. A new landmark report by the G7 Impact Taskforce – launched today at the Mansion House – will seek to provide an answer in order to drive investment that [...]
As we chart a new EU-UK relationship, our historic economic ties will help buoy us up November 29, 2021 From the threat of a resurgence of Covid-19, migration and climate change, to gas shortages and supply chain bottlenecks, both the UK and the rest of Europe are facing significant challenges. It is clear we need even closer cooperation to start to unpick these obstacles, but political turbulence has made collaboration elusive. Since the UK [...]
Social mobility in the Square Mile has to be at the top of every boardroom’s agenda November 15, 2021 When I first came to the City of London from Dublin over three decades ago – with no professional network or established contacts on this side of the Irish Sea – it would have been far-fetched to imagine that I would eventually become its Lord Mayor. Tonight I will be welcoming the Prime Minister to [...]
Bolster trade with Indo-pacific June 27, 2021 Amidst high inflation and a difficult economic outlook, it would be easy for our country to turn inwards in search of a panacea. But to echo the sentiments of John Donne – a famous poet born in the City of London – “no man is an island, entire of itself”. The same is also true [...]
