Anti-business? The Labour Party’s real problem is that it’s anti-market February 9, 2015 The war of words between Boots and the Labour Party has led to much political soul-searching. The salient question seems to be: “is Labour anti-business?” This is not particularly interesting. “Business”, after all, is not some homogenous entity. Many claim to be the “voice of business,” but the loudest tend to be those representing the [...]
Why it’s high time we had a new solution to help charities innovate February 9, 2015 WHEN Britons dig deep into their pockets to help good causes, it’s an impressive sight. Last year, private individuals gave away the best part of £10.5bn. That’s terrific news for UK charities, but it also sets them a challenge. Once entrusted with this cash, how should the voluntary sector make best use of it? Take [...]
Will Miliband’s pledge to double paid paternity leave inhibit business growth and productivity? February 9, 2015 John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, says Yes Businesses have had to manage half a dozen changes to parental leave in the past decade. While these changes are a step in the right direction for families wanting greater flexibility, Labour’s proposal is another burden for small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) at [...]
Here’s a glimpse into the future of the Internet of Things: A day in the life of the connected city February 9, 2015 Meet Jeremy. He lives in London and as part of a new fitness drive, plays squash two mornings a week. The game ends triumphantly and he checks his smart watch to compare his performance to others and to track how many calories he burned – the device even has a personalised solutions service, advising [...]
Islamic State’s dominance must be halted – the West needs to act now February 8, 2015 There are no words to describe what flight lieutenant Moaz al-Kasasbeh – the Jordanian pilot captured by Isis in Syria in December 2014 – endured at the hands of his captors. But perhaps we should remember what writer Edgar Allen Poe once said: that “there are moments when, even to the sober eye of reason, [...]
Why now is the time for London to be proud of its world-leading legal sector February 8, 2015 The foundations of any transaction in a market economy are based on one simple thing: trust. And key to this is the legal system that enforces that trust – by making sure that both sides know exactly what they are getting into, and how any problems that might arise can be resolved. As a nation, [...]
Landlords should not be the scapegoats for uninventive politicians February 8, 2015 If you’re a landlord, you could be forgiven for feeling like the ills of the world are being laid at your door. The Tories held landlords responsible for stemming illegal immigration, making passport and identity checks a legal requirement before any tenancy agreement can be signed. Labour enlisted them in the fight against climate change [...]
Is Apple just milking the cow? I have an awful feeling it might be… February 6, 2015 $18 billion of profit in one quarter. More than three times the quarterly profit of Microsoft and Google and according to the World Bank, on a par with the annual GDP of Yemen. What is it that keeps Apple at the top? Why do we all rush down to the Apple store to bag the [...]
UK firms face unprecedented risks – politicians shouldn’t be adding more February 5, 2015 Uncertainty has become a new watchword for British businesses. It may not be new for them – to varying degrees they have always operated in an uncertain world – but it is now more prominent in their thinking than at any other time in a generation. Today, they face an underperforming Eurozone, ongoing conflicts in [...]
Syriza’s plan for the Greek economy falls short: Grexit must not be ruled out February 5, 2015 After the failure of the new Greek finance minister’s tour of Europe’s capitals this week to produce a workable debt deal, Greece’s situation now seems terminal. Greece has an unemployment rate above 25 per cent, a debt-to-GDP ratio of almost 200 per cent and deflation of 2.6 per cent. The country’s economy has shrunk by [...]