Have yourself a very modern Christmas: How to keep things woke on the big day, from vegan-friendly to zero-carbon December 13, 2019 The cards may read “peace to all men” but Christmas is a time for bitter fights, tantrums and physical conflict, especially when it comes to lunch (or should that be “dinner”?). Most of all, it’s a day when people come together to vehemently disagree about food. Siblings will fly thousands of miles, cross land and [...]
England 3-0 Cameroon: Phil Neville laments shameful behaviour of Lionesses’ opponents at the World Cup June 23, 2019 England are through to the quarter-finals of a World Cup, and yet the post-match talk in Valenciennes was about everything other than the result. “It didn’t feel like football,” fumed Lionesses manager Phil Neville after the final whistle. “I didn’t enjoy it, my players didn’t enjoy it.” Goals from captain Steph Houghton, in-form striker Ellen [...]
Guernsey court rules against former Stobart Group boss ahead of today’s crunch vote July 6, 2018 A court in Guernsey ruled against former Stobart Group boss Andrew Tinkler yesterday in advance of a crunch vote today that will decide the future of the company. The court rejected Tinkler’s attempt to bring an injunction against the board of Southend Airport owner Stobart Group which had barred him from standing for election at [...]
Oaknorth’s founder is banking on challenging incumbent lenders February 14, 2018 Entrepreneurs are often as grateful for the opportunities that don’t come to fruition as those that do. Take Rishi Khosla: he started his first business with so little capital (he and his business partner, Joel Perlman, had just £40k to invest between them), that frugality became part of its DNA. For three years, he and [...]
John McDonnell is wrong – we need tax simplification, not a Hippocratic Oath for accountants January 30, 2018 In a world where public finances are under intense pressure, it is often tempting for politicians to shy away from the hard choices when it comes to making policy. So it was interesting to read shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, especially the part where he proposed new initiatives [...]
No fireworks: Bank of England and Federal Reserve set to hold interest rates next week January 27, 2017 With both the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve set to meet it’s a big week for monetary policy, but don’t expect fireworks, economists say. Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers sparked the financial crisis, the top 50 central banks have cut rates over 700 times, according to JP Morgan. While Brexit and the [...]
Jump in a sea kayak and take to the iceberg infested fjords of Greenland December 9, 2016 The iceberg looming above me is the size of an apartment block, yet despite its enormity the frozen seascape is eerily silent. I am sitting in my kayak with eight other paddlers in one of Greenland’s enormous Arctic fjords. All that breaks the calm is the snap, crackle and pop of the ice. Then, as [...]
Why do some nations hold more gold? December 7, 2016 As an asset, gold is entirely speculative. It provides no income or dividends, and has few industrial or medical applications. Investors buy it only in the confidence that humans’ peculiar and enduring fascination with the lustrous metal will ensure its value through the decades and centuries to come. Unlike other securities, its price is not dictated [...]
The new centre ground: The full text of Theresa May’s Conservative Party conference speech October 5, 2016 In the speech which closed the Conservative Party conference, Theresa May spoke of a country in transition, and new opportunities. The full 7,600 words is below – although if you'd rather a cut-down version, her best quotes are here – or you can read how businesses reacted. The new centre ground: May's speech in full When [...]
Gtech eBike review: The battery-assisted push bike that takes the effort out of uphill slogs May 11, 2016 Getting around London has become remarkably easier in the last couple of years, thanks to our old friend electricity. Not content with powering our homes, the popular energy source has turned its attentions to bikes, scooters and weird little unicycle things of every conceivable shape and size, allowing us to zip around the city with [...]