The Mitchells Vs The Machines is the feel-good film of 2021 April 29, 2021 It’s rare to find an original film that generate a lot of hype in this sequel and ‘shared universe’ obsessed industry. However, when there’s a new film from the producers of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and the much-adored Into The Spider-Verse, people sit up and pay attention. Netflix certainly did, paying big money [...]
Post-Christmas lockdown for Northern Ireland December 18, 2020 Northern Ireland will enter a strict six-week lockdown from Boxing Day. Health Minister Robin Swann said the lockdown is “in large part” the same as “the sustained lockdown” of last March. Non-essential shops will close after Christmas Eve, and close-contact services such as hairdressers and beauticians will have to shut. Pubs, cafés and restaurants will [...]
Increase coronavirus alert level, say UK’s top medical officials September 21, 2020 The UK’s chief medical officers have called for the government to increase the coronavirus alert level from three to four, which could see new restrictions imposed. A statement signed by the nation’s four top medical officials said they have “reviewed the evidence” and that “the number of cases are now rising rapidly and probably exponentially in significant parts [...]
Coronavirus dividend cuts produce £4.4bn hit to investor portfolios March 27, 2020 With more UK firms announcing coronavirus-fuelled dividend cuts this week, the total loss of investor income so far this year is now £4.4bn. The pace of dividend cuts is accelerating as coronavirus wreaks havoc on world economies. In March 116 companies have suspended their dividends totalling £4.2bn, according to investment fund AJ Bell. That compares [...]
DEBATE: As Julian Richer hands over company shares, are staff-owned firms better for the economy? May 16, 2019 As Julian Richer hands over company shares, are staff-owned firms are better for the economy? Scott Corfe, chief economist at the Social Market Foundation, says YES. Companies with significant employee ownership schemes tend to have higher productivity – which is exactly what the UK needs right now. Poor productivity performance is a key reason why, [...]
The left is upping its campaign against the free market – and the City in particular April 28, 2019 John McDonnell and the Labour party have long talked of the need to “democratise” our economy. Their plans for sweeping nationalisations, a state-run investment bank and the forced reallocation of shares to the workers are all couched in the language of taking power from the fat cats and making finance a servant of the public, [...]
DEBATE: Is Britain missing out by not having a legal cannabis market? May 24, 2018 Is Britain missing out by not having a legal cannabis market? George McBride, co-founder of Cannabis Europa, says YES. The UK economy is missing out – but not the drug dealers. They’ve been gifted a monopoly over a plant with a mind-boggling range of commercial, recreational, and medical applications. Cannabis is the fastest growing industry [...]
Queen’s Birthday Honours: the full 2021 list June 12, 2021 Below the full list of names for this year ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) The Rt. Hon. Frederick Richard Penn Curzon, The Earl Howe. For political and parliamentary service. (Amersham, Buckinghamshire) ORDER OF THE BATH Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) [...]
Form alliance with Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore to boost City after Brexit, Shanker Singham argues in new report May 4, 2018 The City should forge alliances with other major financial hubs to strengthen and boost its position in the post-Brexit world, a new report by influential trade wonk Shanker Singham argues. According to Singham and co-author Catherine McBride, both of whom left Legatum to join the Institute of Economic Affairs in March, the UK should use [...]
IEA poaches Legatum’s top Brexit adviser Shanker Singham and team March 9, 2018 Free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has poached Shanker Singham and three of his team from rival firm Legatum. Singham, who is widely seen as one of the top Brexit policy advisers and has played a key role in guiding the government’s thinking on the issue, will head up the IEA’s [...]