Opinion-in-brief: The closing act of Partygate is embarrassing for everyone May 26, 2022 The report by Sue Gray on the parties held in Downing Street was finally released yesterday – and hell, it was damning. It concluded that the “senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility”. What was Boris Johnson’s defence? He “humbly” apologised and took responsibility, but urged everyone to “move on”. [...]
Street votes will be a bottom-up policy that satisfies without ruffling feathers May 26, 2022 Britain needs more homes; practically everyone agrees, including Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and his predecessors. Knowing what you need and knowing how to get there are quite different things, however, and radical pro-housing policies have repeatedly been broken on the back of public or political opposition. It’s in this context that the government has [...]
It’s time businesses step up and support local authorities in protecting biodiversity May 26, 2022 This week some of the biggest names in business are meeting at Davos. Sustainability, biodiversity and the positive impact that business can bring are high on the agenda. Over 50 per cent of the world’s total GDP is either highly or moderately depending on nature, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). Yet only 50 [...]
No point in having a state of the art transport system if our people can’t afford it May 26, 2022 This is a good month for trains in London. The Elizabeth Line finally opened on Tuesday, mostly to acclaim for its engineering and speed. The Northern Line works through Bank, which made north-south travel painfully difficult, ended punctually a week earlier. It’s briefly easy to forget the storm clouds gathering over public transport in London [...]
Letters: A call for post-Brexit regulation May 26, 2022 [Re: Brexit boost: UK trademark disputes double following Britain’s exit from the European Union, May 23] Morning Wire’s article on the rise in UK trade mark disputes following Brexit was a welcome insight into the issues that innovators in the UK face and the hoops they need to jump through to protect and enforce their [...]
The Uyghurs can’t afford the cost of inaction May 25, 2022 China’s horrific treatment of the Muslim Uyghur minority is far from a secret. Despite Beijing’s denial, proof has emerged of internment camps in the Xinjiang region where Uyghurs are subjected to forced labour and attempts at brainwashing. Yesterday new key information emerged about Beijing’s reckless policy of authoritarianism. A stockpile of files were leaked to [...]
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen talks Meta, Musk and online safety May 25, 2022 Morning Wire chats with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen about Meta, Musk and the future of online safety.
We must uphold online competition at home, or we risk lagging behind the EU May 25, 2022 RIght now in the European Union, law-makers are putting the finishing touches on the Digital Markets Act – a landmark law which will upend big tech firms’ business models to improve competition online. In the UK, on the other hand, regulators, ministers and many lawmakers are frustrated. UK regulators are convinced dominant big tech firms [...]
The Elizabeth Line is a new badge of honor in the fascinating history of our capital city May 25, 2022 London never stays still. Whether we’re trying to clean up our polluted air or bring our city closer together, transport has always been at the heart of change in our capital. Riding the Elizabeth Line on Monday before it opened to the public officially yesterday, I was struck by the ambition and vision of the [...]
Many lessons can be learned from drink driving and smoking laws to tackle obesity May 25, 2022 Obesity has been a hot topic over the past week. The government announced it would delay its plan to implement restrictions on junk food marketing and volume-based price promotions. These had been presented as key elements in the strategy to reduce obesity. With a timing which was either impeccable or pure good luck, the Cancer [...]