It’s time to break the Whitehall silo and put startup discipline into government December 3, 2013 THE CURSE of Norman Lamont makes politicians wary of mentioning the “green shoots” of recovery. But when the data show growth of 0.4 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 0.8 per cent in the first three quarters of 2013, it’s clear. The UK is off life support. Sure, the recovery is heavily consumption-led, with exports [...]
Labour threatens to redesign HS2 link August 26, 2013 LABOUR would delay construction of the London leg of the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway in order to redesign the route through the capital, shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle has told City A.M. Eagle said the government’s current proposal to link HS2 to the High Speed 1 (HS1) line using existing tracks through north London [...]
Exclusive: Labour threatens to redesign HS2 link August 27, 2013 LABOUR would delay construction of the London leg of the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway in order to redesign the route through the capital, shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle has told City A.M. Eagle said the government’s current proposal to link HS2 to the High Speed 1 (HS1) line using existing tracks through north London [...]
Our energy crisis, like America’s debt idiocy, is self-inflicted October 8, 2013 IT is easy to laugh at America’s political system, which is once again showing itself to be hopelessly defective as it trundles along towards a possible default. In a development which oozes geopolitical significance, China and Japan, America’s top creditors, yesterday made their displeasure known in no uncertain terms. It is exactly what those of [...]
Our energy crisis, like America’s debt idiocy, is self-inflicted October 7, 2013 IT is easy to laugh at America’s political system, which is once again showing itself to be hopelessly defective as it trundles along towards a possible default. In a development which oozes geopolitical significance, China and Japan, America’s top creditors, yesterday made their displeasure known in no uncertain terms. It is exactly what those of [...]
Letters to the editor – HS2’s growing bill, Best of Twitter – 20/08 August 19, 2013 HS2’s growing bill [Re: HS2 rubbishes claim that costs could hit £80bn, Monday] The conclusion that the decision to proceed with High Speed 2 risks imposing significant additional costs on taxpayers is not, as HS2 Ltd claims, based on ideology. Our HS2 report provides hard evidence that the project is being shaped by interest group [...]
Hays heralds a return to profit for its UK arm August 29, 2013 RECRUITMENT firm Hays has turned a profit in Britain for the first time in five years, in what chief executive Alistair Cox said reflects a return to growth in most parts of the UK jobs market. “We are on the front foot in terms of growth now, we expect the UK to continue to grow,” [...]
Centrica labels Labour plan as a recipe for ruin September 24, 2013 BRITAIN’S big six energy companies yesterday lambasted Labour leader Ed Miliband’s pledge to freeze energy bills until 2017, saying his planned reforms could financially ruin firms and discourage infrastructure investment. Sir Roger Carr, chairman of British Gas owner Centrica, said Labour’s plan to implement price controls could leave companies in a vulnerable position. “When costs [...]
MPs deliver new blow to HS2 plan September 8, 2013 HIGH Speed 2 (HS2) lacks a “convincing strategic case”, according to a damning report released today by MPs that questions the entire justification for the £50bn railway. Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of the public accounts committee, said the department for transport had relied on “fragile numbers, out-of-date data and assumptions which do not reflect real [...]
Growth forecast hiked for UK as recovery emerges September 3, 2013 THE BRITISH economy is expected to expand almost twice as quickly this year as previously thought, according to new forecasts from a major international agency. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UK’s GDP is likely to grow by 1.5 per cent this year, up from the 0.8 per cent it [...]