Supping with the devil: Germany must wake up about Nord Stream 2 November 19, 2021 As far back as the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer put it very well in political risk terms when he said in “The Squire’s Tale” of Canterbury Tales, “He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon”. In mercantilist Germany’s case—where its foreign policy is all too often only an excuse for its export-driven [...]
It’s about time for Rishi Sunak to make his mind up on road tax for electric vehicles November 19, 2021 Britain is firmly on the front foot towards a transition to electric vehicles. Last week, as he unveiled a new design for charging stations, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he hoped they would become as iconic as the black cab. The government’s newly announced zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate will set electric vehicle sales targets [...]
A Churchillian answer to the Covid-19 debt: what we need is emergency consols November 19, 2021 The budget numbers are stark: taxes rising to their highest since the 1950s, government debt hitting 97 per cent of the national income, and that’s if we’re lucky. Much of the problem is down to the cost of pandemic measures—furlough, welfare, business loans and lower lockdown tax revenues—of around £550bn, equating to £20,000 for every [...]
We’re probably not losing our marbles November 18, 2021 The Elgin marbles are causing a stir -again- after Boris Johnson and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on Monday. The Greek PM insisted once more that the outstanding sculptures belong to Greece, while Boris shook off responsibility saying it is a matter for the British Museum. The British claim to the marbles dates back [...]
The German dream of levelling up is still just a shell under Boris Johnson November 18, 2021 Politicians and policy experts in this country often like to compare it to Germany, with many thinking – rightly or wrongly – that it is the model of a well-functioning state. The Prime Minister did this in a recent flagship speech on his still undefined levelling up agenda. Boris Johnson lamented how, three decades after [...]
Treasury needs to play nice with regulators to make a success of post-Brexit rules November 18, 2021 Uncertainty is a killer for businesses. Too bad it is everywhere you look. Unknown unknowns are impossible to root out, but firms have developed coping strategies to allow them to live in a deeply fragile world. The underlying factors that triggered the financial crisis were unknown unknowns to (almost) everyone, even if they seem obvious [...]
Stop stoking the fire and arm watchdogs with independent powers to fight sleaze November 18, 2021 The failed attempt to overturn Owen Paterson’s suspension from the House of Commons has revealed just how much more independent oversight the UK needs to achieve truly high standards in public life. The House of Commons already has a fairly independent system for upholding the code of conduct for MPs: potential breaches are investigated by [...]
PMQs: Keir Starmer finally gets his leader’s feet under the table with Northern rail letdown and sleaze spat November 17, 2021 Keir Starmer has finally figured out he is, in fact, leader of the Labour party as he takes on Boris Johnson over rail let downs and sleaze allegations
Letters: Stop putting lipstick on a pig November 17, 2021 [Re: The future of cruelty free cosmetics] The news that the government would align with an EU decision resulting in allowing testing of ingredients – used even only in cosmetics – on animals is hugely concerning. This would effectively undermine the policy ban that has been in place here in the UK since 1998. Not [...]
Want a contract? Flash your green credentials on your way in, please November 17, 2021 Mining magnate Brian Gilbertson once recalled a results day at the turn of the Millennium. Ready to take City analysts through impressive figures on iron ore production he was somewhat surprised when asked: “What’s your internet strategy?” The South African spent the rest of the morning hurriedly writing down a dot com plan on an [...]