DEBATE: Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? June 26, 2019 Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? Clive Docwra, managing director of McBains, says YES. Politicians are obsessed with home ownership, including both contenders for Prime Minister. Jeremy Hunt has put a new “right to own” policy at the heart of his bid, while Boris Johnson has backed replacing Help to [...]
It may not be Hammond’s cup of tea, but we deserve some tax-cutting champions May 31, 2019 I for one am thrilled to see politicians not just talking about tax cuts, but competing for the best policy to reduce a tax burden that is at a near 50-year high. Sure, it took a leadership contest to get them properly talking about it, but from the home secretary’s endorsement of the Adam Smith [...]
UK services sector shrinks for first time in over two years April 3, 2019 The UK’s crucial services sector contracted in March amid widespread reports of Brexit uncertainty constraining demand, bringing to an end over two-and-a-half years of growth. Aside from a brief dip seen after the European Union referendum, the latest reading of the services purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which gives an overall view of the sector, was [...]
Nouriel Roubini interview (Part I): Expect a ‘synchronised slowdown’ in 2019 April 2, 2019 When Nouriel Roubini talks, it’s worth a listen. Not known for his optimism, the well-known American economist bears the moniker ‘Dr Doom’. CFA Institute spoke to him to get his take on topics including the prospects for global growth and technologies. CFA Institute: When you spoke to us in 2015, roughly six years after the [...]
G4S loses permanent contract for ‘war zone’ Birmingham prison April 1, 2019 A G4S prison in Birmingham has been taken back under permanent government control after it was found in a state of crisis so acute the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was forced to step in last summer. HMP Birmingham was seized from the contractor in August last year when the prisons watchdog found it was exceptionally [...]
Brexit vote live: MPs vote to delay Brexit by extending Article 50 beyond 29 March March 14, 2019 Hello and welcome to City A.M.’s Brexit live blog for the second of potentially three huge votes on the UK’s departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated in the House of Commons in a second vote on her Brexit deal on Tuesday, losing by 391 votes to 242. Last night, MPs voted [...]
UK to remain part of key euro payments system even in a no-deal Brexit March 7, 2019 The UK will remain part of a key euro payments system even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The European Payments Council (EPC) has ruled that the UK can remain in the bloc’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Read more: Clock ticking: EU gives May until tomorrow to [...]
Brands have ‘Netflix envy’ and need expertise of advertising agencies, says WPP boss March 5, 2019 Brands are guilty of ‘Netflix envy’ and need the expertise of traditional advertising agencies, WPP chief executive Mark Read said today. Speaking at the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) conference, Read played down fears brands are increasingly moving their advertising in-house and defended the role of conventional ad shops. Read more: Profits plunge at advertising [...]
Can a trip to the Douro Valley convince Emma Bullimore that port is palatable? March 1, 2019 Does anybody drink port? Maybe it’s just me, but the red stuff seems a bit redundant. I don’t even remember the last time I saw an advert for it. Whisky is everywhere, it wouldn’t be Christmas without brandy, even sherry is making a comeback. Port, on the other hand, is generally consigned to the back [...]
Telecoms bosses warn of risks to 5G roll-out February 25, 2019 Top executives from Europe's major telecoms firms have identified multiple obstacles that could impede the roll-out of 5G across the continent. Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, BT consumer chief executive Marc Allera said that landlords across the UK were preventing the firm from constructing thousands of pieces of key infrastructure such as masts and [...]