We can reform London’s rental sector without demonising landlords May 27, 2014 THE SHADOW of Peter Rachman, the epitome of the rogue landlord, still lingers over the rented sector. Yet deregulation in the late 1980s means it is incomparable with the rent-controlled, deteriorating rump stock of old. Today’s rented sector houses a phenomenally diverse 2m Londoners. There isn’t a typical renter. Every income group is represented equally, [...]
Our fragmented future: Why we’re now in an age of coalition politics May 27, 2014 THE PHRASE “no overall control” is likely to become the norm for British politics, certainly at the national level. The results of the recent local and European elections make clear that the electorate has no appetite for a strong Conservative direction, nor a Labour one. In spite of a concerted effort by the big guns [...]
Ukip is not a creation of the media – it is a reflection of voter disaffection May 27, 2014 WITH Ukip’s victory in the EU elections and a strong performance in council elections across the country, Westminster’s traditional parties are searching for explanations of Nigel Farage and his party’s success. Many, despite evidence to the contrary, have until now laboured under the misapprehension that Ukip’s support is purely “dividing the right” and the broad [...]
Big banks beware: It’s tougher than ever to stay ahead of the curve May 27, 2014 WE’VE seen a steady stream of good news and positive figures about the UK economy recently. Unemployment is down, consumer confidence up, and the IMF suggests that our economy will be the fastest growing in the G7 in 2014. This is not limited to London, either. While some economists and politicians have expressed recent concerns [...]
Letters to the Editor – 27/05 – Dangerous rates, China’s rise, Best of Twitter May 27, 2014 Dangerous rates [Re: Britain’s mortgage prisoners must act now or face financial meltdown, Friday] The fate of the “mortgage prisoners” (those who have used the opportunity of low rates to take out misjudged loans for new properties) is no doubt troubling. But to argue that this means we should put off a rise in base [...]
City & Gild: Why we should celebrate the sale of British brands May 23, 2014 I have been following the Pfizer AstraZeneca shenanigans with fascination and interest. From what I can gather, a big American pharmaceutical company wants to buy a big British pharmaceutical company to become the biggest pharmaceutical company in the world. Lots of people are outraged because yet another British business is to be sold off to [...]
Letters to the Editor – 23/05 – Debating Europe, Best of Twitter May 22, 2014 Debating Europe [Re: European Parliament election: Could a victory for Ukip help it secure a domestic foothold?, yesterday] It was interesting to hear Charles Lewington OBE’s views that Nigel Farage’s party is one of “eccentrics”. It might be also interesting to note that one such “eccentric” worked as a non-executive director for Charles’s business for [...]
Britain’s mortgage prisoners must act now or face financial meltdown May 22, 2014 IT’s BEEN a busy week in the world of monetary policy. On Sunday, Mark Carney said that rising house prices pose the biggest threat to economic recovery. On Tuesday, the official statistics told us what we already knew – that house prices in London are soaring, by 17 per cent year-on-year. Some homeowners are finding [...]
Socrates and the euro elections: A democratic dialogue May 22, 2014 SCENE: A LONDON BACK STREET… SOCRATES: Hey, you there, why are you tearing up those placards? ANGRY VOTER: It’s over, the racists have won. It’s a black day for democracy. SOCRATES: Ah, you’ve been taking part in the recent election. I’m an immigrant from a fellow democracy myself, so I’m fascinated to understand your system [...]
China is the real victor as Putin looks East May 22, 2014 WHEN President Vladimir Putin voyaged to Beijing this week, it was with one thing in mind: strengthening Sino-Russian relations. The signing of a $400bn (£237bn) gas pipeline deal with Beijing formed the centrepiece of this effort. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is pushing the US and Europe away, and Putin is looking to reorient towards an [...]