How government spending cuts can be a catalyst for radically better public services May 23, 2016 In the fallout over the recent Budget, government spending was once again in the spotlight. But while the row centred on benefits at a national level, it’s social care managed by local authorities that is currently entering a period of intense crisis. Faced with unprecedented cuts, local government chiefs now have to find a way to conjure [...]
Alistair Darling and Michael Howard clash over Brexit campaign at CBI dinner May 18, 2016 Two grandees of the Leave and Remain campaigns dramatically crossed swords last night, when a former chancellor and former home secretary clashed over the ramifications of the referendum vote at the CBI's annual dinner. The glitzy black tie event, hosted at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, saw Labour peer Alistair Darling and Tory peer Michael Howard [...]
Investment banking revenues plunged to financial crisis levels in 2015 – and a greater drop is expected this year May 17, 2016 Global investment banking revenues dropped to their lowest levels since the financial crisis last year. And they are expected to plummet even further this year, according to a new report. Analysis in the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Capital Markets 2016 report predicts 2016 investment banking revenue to total $212bn (£147bn), down seven per cent from [...]
Inflation rate falls to 0.3 per cent in April due to cheaper clothes and air fares May 17, 2016 Inflation was running at 0.3 per cent in April, figures out this morning from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown, denting the trend of slow-and-steady price rises since the start of the year. The headline consumer prices index (CPI) rate fell back from 0.5 per cent in March and is now in line with figures [...]
Sadiq Khan’s rent caps could benefit London landlords May 12, 2016 London’s newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, has already committed to making the London housing crisis a priority. He has announced a raft of policies aimed at helping the capital’s two million private renters, and one is attracting particular scrutiny and controversy – the introduction of a London rent cap. Few people doubt rents in London [...]
Sadiq Khan will need to be radical in his thinking to solve London housing crisis May 12, 2016 The election of Sadiq Khan as London's new mayor neatly demonstrates what makes London a great city. Through his victory, Khan highlights that London is a city of opportunity where success is not dependent on a privileged upbringing. However, the attraction of London – thanks to its thriving economy and its ability to attract talent – [...]
All that food Instagraming means millennials face higher inflation than anyone else May 9, 2016 It looks like their obsession with Instagram-friendly "experiences" is coming back to bite Millennials – after new research suggested they're facing the highest level of inflation of any generation around today. The research, by Fidelity International, suggested Millennials (which the research defines as those under 30) were faced with the price rises of 0.9 per cent in the year to March, thanks to [...]
Sadiq Khan vows to make London better as he’s sworn in as mayor May 7, 2016 Sadiq Khan sworn vowed to make London better as he was sworn in as the new mayor of London at Southwark Cathedral. He stormed to victory yesterday with the biggest ever mandate from the electorate, ending eight years of Conservative control at City Hall. "I'm determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London [...]
Sadiq Khan: I will unite London and be the most pro-business mayor yet May 5, 2016 Millions of Londoners will have the opportunity today to vote for a new mayor. And when it comes to business and the financial sector, this election matters. London is an established global leader in business services and international finance. We are also a growing force in newer industries such as tech, low carbon and life [...]
Failure to tackle the scourge of rising rents will undermine London’s startup renaissance May 3, 2016 Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales once said that “in the US, Washington is politics, LA is Hollywood, San Francisco is tech, New York is advertising and finance, but London is all of those things.” If anything, he is selling our city short; throw in the culture of the city that shaped creative geniuses such as Charles [...]