You know what won’t improve state efficiency? More watchdogs November 12, 2024 Donald Trump and Keir Starmer agree on one thing at least: their governments need reforming and to be much more efficient. Sadly for those on this side of the Atlantic, our value-for-money policies inspire little confidence. The UK already needed radical attention but Labour’s first Budget has raised the stakes even higher. As the Office [...]
Forget a trade deal. Let’s use Trump’s victory to entice US students to the UK November 12, 2024 Trump's promised campus crackdown will prompt US students to look at other options. Let's welcome them here, writes Will Cooling.
Labour will be thinking global, but their fortunes depend on the local November 12, 2024 Labour strategists will be focused on what Trump’s victory means for Britain and the world, but the government will soon face big challenges at the local level, says James Nation Following on from the US election result, takes abound on what Trump 2.0 means for the world and for the UK. On the economy, there [...]
The Notebook: The consequences of spending, spending, spending November 11, 2024 Staggering government spending has become the norm since the pandemic, but the consequences are coming, writes Kokou Agbo Bloua.
What business can learn from military drone tactics — and what to avoid November 11, 2024 Drone technology could transform how we do business, but brings practical and ethical difficulties with it, says Paul Armstrong For businesses, the military’s use of AI-enabled drones offers a potent model of efficiency: remote inspection, logistics, and hazard mitigation. Imagine swarming AI drones optimising supply chains or inspecting dangerous infrastructure. The capabilities honed in combat [...]
Want to fix the gender pay gap? Pay women more November 11, 2024 The ONS‘ latest report reveals that the gender pay gap has decreased, albeit it at a glacially slow pace. While many commentators are hailing the results as a monumental shift in the balance for fair pay, Dr Nahla Khaddage Bou-Diab says that corporate initiatives backed by many of the City’s big players are slowing down progress The [...]
Lessons from the Gulf: The UK must listen to business November 11, 2024 The UK may feel worlds apart from the Gulf monarchies, but there are lessons to be taken, writes Eliot Wilson.
Ministers either don’t understand private sector, or don’t care November 11, 2024 No politician could actually get away with telling businesses to “suck it up” when they warn about the impact of tax rises, though Labour’s Darren Jones came dangerously close yesterday, airily telling the BBC that bigger businesses can handle higher costs. While it’s true that they’ll find a way to pay these new taxes and [...]
The real reason Britain doesn’t build November 11, 2024 Planning isn’t the only reason we have a housing shortage, too many developments just aren’t economically viable, says Melanie Leech The government is undoubtedly right to focus its efforts on reforming the planning system. Ask the anyone in the property industry and they will say that the system is complex, burdensome, under-resourced, and prone to [...]
Time to take the handbrake off the City and unleash growth November 11, 2024 The Lord Mayor’s Show is a reminder that despite only being 1.12 square miles in size, there’s no limit to the City’s ambition and what it can achieve when it comes together, says Alastair King As the scaffolding comes down outside Mansion House and the majestic State Coach returns to the safety of the London [...]