Dear Juncker, more integration is not the answer to EU woes. Focusing on cooperation between states might do the trick September 19, 2016 The EU’s head honcho, Jean-Claude Juncker, was in the news last week for the televisual highlight of all good Europeans: his annual State of the Union address. It was a sombre affair, unlikely to cheer up anyone’s Wednesday morning. It sounded like a eulogy, and Juncker should at least be commended for his honesty. Addressing members [...]
Reality has finally caught up with Germany’s disastrous Chancellor Merkel September 19, 2016 Merkeln (German verb): To dither, do nothing or fail to take decisions I have always thought the German stereotype for humourlessness is slightly unfair. Exhibit A for my contrary view is that a new verb, Merkeln, has recently entered the German language. Any culture that can coin a word to describe the haplessness of its [...]
China sees Brexit as a huge opportunity to forge new trading links with Britain September 19, 2016 I returned last week from a key overseas trade visit as lord mayor, to China and Hong Kong. I was accompanied by a number of City firms, and because the trip followed the G20 Summit, held just before our arrival there, all of them expected an exciting and illuminating visit. One of the big topics [...]
Following defections to the Tories and the election of new leader Diane James, is Ukip a busted flush? September 16, 2016 Ed Bowsher, deputy editor of Share Radio, says Yes. Ukip was founded to take Britain out of the European Union. That’s almost certainly going to happen, so the party has no core purpose anymore. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she’ll take Britain out of the EU, and even if she wanted to change tack, a [...]
Why the Single Market is the problem – not the solution September 16, 2016 With UK exports at £669bn in 2015, it hardly needs to be said that trade is critical to the UK economy. Despite this huge number, however, the UK has the largest current account deficit in the G7, approaching 6 per cent of GDP. Understanding the reasons for the UK’s trade deficit is critical to designing [...]
I want to build a national consensus on Britain’s bright post-Brexit future September 15, 2016 Napoleon is said to have once described Britain as a nation of shopkeepers. It was not meant as a compliment, but it highlighted one of our country’s biggest and most enduring strengths. We are one of the great trading nations of the world and the decision taken by the people to leave the EU will [...]
The public are far less hostile to high levels of immigration than you think September 15, 2016 During elections, complex issues are radically simplified. Both the campaigns and the media are responsible for it, but this is reasonable – busy people have little time to investigate the merits of complicated policy ideas. As such, the immigration debate that took place during the EU referendum was depicted as a choice between continued large-scale [...]
The next Singapore: Britain must seize this opportunity to slash tax and regulation September 15, 2016 I have always been torn over Britain’s relationship with Europe. While I share the loathing of the most passionate Brexiteer for the arrogance of the Brussels elite and their job-destroying regulations, I also fear the largely unintended consequences of what EU withdrawal will mean both for Britain in terms of prosperity and influence, and for [...]
As the Bank of England holds interest rates, is ultra-loose monetary policy a danger to financial stability? September 15, 2016 Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister, says Yes. The Bank’s monetary policy is not only a potentially serious danger to financial stability, it also has damaging side effects that call into question the extent of easing it actually represents. The fallout from years of pushing both short and long rates lower is that capital markets and [...]
How women can break through the glass wall separating them from career success September 15, 2016 FTSE firms face tough targets for women in top jobs. But is that what it takes to fix the current situation? Last October, the Davies report came out, proclaiming good news: the target for women on FTSE 100 boards had been exceeded at 26 per cent. On closer scrutiny, the news was much more mixed. [...]