Five Eyes: This intelligence-sharing pillar of UK security is in peril if we stay inside the EU April 18, 2016 The true nature of how the intelligence world works is far from the James Bond potboilers beloved of us all. In practice, the intelligence arena is far more bureaucratic, far more organised, and far more important than the fertile, fevered imagination of Ian Fleming. And quite possibly the most important cog in the wheel of [...]
Seafaring Britain’s future prosperity depends on international cooperation April 18, 2016 Having been born in Sweden, with a Norwegian grandmother, and after visiting Finland countless times on business, my current trip to these Nordic nations almost feels like a homecoming. Many of the topics to be discussed during this week-long trip are equally familiar. The growing global maritime industry will be one of them, and, as [...]
Costly EU regulation has not made financial services safer or better – but Brexit is no silver bullet April 18, 2016 The City is split when it comes to Brexit. Certainly, the larger City institutions with significant EU business tend to side with Remain. However, smaller companies and those with a more global business model are more divided. The supporters of the EU value the Single Market. They seem to believe that it promotes free trade [...]
We’ve given over a million people a pay rise: Now here’s how we’ll achieve full employment April 15, 2016 Today marks the launch of the first ever UK Employability Day, when businesses dedicated to helping people into work will open their doors to showcase what they do best. It’s a fantastic idea by the Employment Related Services Association that will see more than 70 employment centres across the country take part – including several [...]
Why capitalism, not stereotypical politicians, should decide whether the London Stock Exchange merger goes ahead April 15, 2016 It's always fun to see national stereotypes on display. Bill Cash loudly insisting that the Germans are too unimaginative and inflexible to be allowed to run the London Stock Exchange. Ulrich Caspar not exactly disproving him with the insistence that any and every stock exchange must be under the control of a provincial government with the [...]
EU referendum: Jeremy Corbyn has laid out his case for remaining in the EU – but his version of Europe would be the worst of all worlds April 15, 2016 Believe it or not, Jeremy Corbyn’s grudging intervention in the EU debate yesterday was startlingly refreshing. The Labour leader’s “warts and all” assessment that, on balance, perhaps it would be better to stay in the EU despite its many problems was far more reflective of the views of most Remain supporters than the starry-eyed arguments [...]
Sadiq Khan’s policies would only make London’s housing crisis worse April 15, 2016 When Londoners go to the polls for the mayoral election on 5 May, there’s no doubt that the issue of housing will be at the top of many voters’ minds. Over half of Londoners now mention housing as one of the most important issues facing the capital – an increase of 13 percentage points compared [...]
Britain’s nineteenth century tax system is breaking under twenty-first century strains April 15, 2016 Politicians have noticed (perhaps belatedly) that they have been fiddling with a nineteenth century tax system while taxpayers have been operating in the twenty-first century. The existing tax system is a result of years of tinkering, reflecting the influence of political views and special interest lobbying. This has created vast complexity. We could look to [...]
London’s growth is moving East – but more must be done to unlock the potential of the Royal Docks and London City Airport April 15, 2016 Connectivity is one of the key challenges facing London’s businesses and communities. The ability of visitors to access the city from overseas, the ability to access other countries from London, and the ability to move around within the capital are all key to growth. London is moving east: more housing is being built and more businesses [...]
As Jeremy Corbyn formally announces his support for Remain, will he swing the EU referendum? April 15, 2016 Olivia Bailey, research director at the Fabian Society, says Yes. The scale on which Labour supporters turn out to vote could be decisive in the EU referendum. On current voting intentions, just under two thirds of Labour’s 2015 voters support Remain, an electorally significant 6m people. But new research from the Fabian Society and polling company [...]