CITY VIEWS | DO YOU THINK LONDON’S AIRPORTS ARE READY FOR THE OLYMPICS? May 21, 2012 ATSUSHI MATSUMOTO SMBC NIKKO I don’t think so. The airports could be end up being a let down and embarrassment this summer. But I have hope in the aviation authorities that they could still do something about it in the 50 or so days to go before the Olympics. What is really bothering me is [...]
Companies don’t pay taxes – but employees, owners and customers do May 21, 2012 THIS WEEK sees the launch of The Single Income Tax – the final report of the 2020 Tax Commission. As one of the commissioners, I’m proud of the result: a 417-page blockbuster of thorough analysis and sensible, yet radical, reforms. A Single Income Tax would ensure that taxes were cut to 33 per cent of [...]
House prices in the capital are detached by location May 20, 2012 London’s property market is outperforming but some boroughs are well off the pace LONDON Neither London, nor England and Wales, have returned to their 2008 peaks – but London is close. From March 2009, prices have grown 16 per cent in London compared to 6 per cent in England and Wales as a whole. However, [...]
Transport and schools are key to valuations May 20, 2012 TRYING to predict where London’s house prices will go as a whole is a fools errand. The house price earnings ratio suggests property remains overvalued, but the influx of foreign cash combined with inflexible planning restrictions could see prices continue to rise. It’s easier – and more fruitful – to weigh up different areas. THE [...]
G4S revenues rise with help from Olympics May 15, 2012 SECURITY firm G4S yesterday said that revenues were up 7.5 per cent year-on-year for the first quarter of 2012, assisted by a substantial contract from the forthcoming Olympic Games. Despite this the board reported that profits were at similar levels to the previous year due to lower operating margins. Shares in the firm – the [...]
London Heathrow retains top spot as Europe’s busiest airport May 14, 2012 LONDON Heathrow was Europe’s busiest airport in 2010, handling 66m passengers, ahead of Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt’s Main airports, figures released by the European Union show. This was in stark contrast with Stansted, London’s third biggest airport where traffic fell by seven per cent in 2010 – the second largest decline in passenger [...]
Here’s the real Plan B for Britain: We need a competition revolution May 14, 2012 NO ONE can dispute that the UK economy needs more growth. It seems that the coalition’s essential austerity measures are not enough. But despite its cheerleaders, the usual Plan B, based on debt-financed infrastructure spending, won’t make any difference to growth – while denting confidence. One such plan suggested £30bn in spending. Over three years, [...]
RAPID RESPONSES May 14, 2012 Brown belt building [Re: Restrictions choke London, Friday] Tim Leunig has a balanced view of development. He recognises the role of open space, green belts and “fingers”, and transport links. But I disagree with him on the creation of new suburbs. He himself says why: Los Angeles. Do we really want urban sprawl stretching from [...]
London thrives as conference sector takes off May 13, 2012 BORIS Johnson has boosted London’s conference industry, forcing the capital up the international rankings and putting the city on a path to becoming the world’s top location for professional gatherings, an industry body declared today. London hosted 115 conferences last year, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), putting it at number seven [...]
Deloitte offers tech advice in new digi-arm May 13, 2012 BIG FOUR accountancy firm Deloitte has joined the digital revolution and will today launch a new division to cater for clients seeking tech advice. Deloitte Digital, a practice of over 800 employees globally with 100 staff based in the UK, will provide strategy, creative and implementation advice across the areas of mobile, web, social and [...]