Businesses must proactively confront how they treat ethnic minorities September 1, 2016 Theresa May has not defined herself as a great defender of the rights of minorities, but in practice she has been taking an active interest in the issue. As home secretary, she reformed stop and search policies because of concerns about their negative impact on minorities. Now she has announced a new audit of how [...]
From the gender pay gap to the minimum wage, the politicisation of pay threatens the UK’s business-friendly reputation August 19, 2016 Economic logic suggests that free determination of employment contracts, like free trade, normally benefits both parties and leads to high levels of employment and economic growth. But this view has never been popular. Fifty years ago, it was the accepted belief that governments should determine pay increases, leading to the dead end of incomes policies [...]
Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign launch: Here’s what he said about business July 21, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn delivered a confident speech today as he launched his campaign to retain his place at the helm of the party. In a good mood, Corbyn announced that he would fight to rid the UK of its 21st century "five ills" of inequality, neglect, prejudice, insecurity and discrimination. His speech included a dig at [...]
The House of Lords lauds diversity with a new power list of the top 100 business leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds April 27, 2016 If there's one thing the City is in dire need of, it's diversity. That's why a Westminster peers have grouped together to bring us a power list of the top 100 business leaders from ethnic minority groups. The top 100 most influential BAME (black, asian and minority ethnic) people in business were lauded in the house of [...]
Women on boards: Could creating a Female Stock Exchange be a way to redress the balance? April 26, 2016 Frustrated by the FTSE 350’s “one step forward, two steps back” progress towards getting more women on boards, I’ve had an idea. Why not create a Female Stock Exchange dedicated to helping companies run by or for women to raise finance and grow? Let’s face it, thanks to uncertainty over Brexit, the City is already in flux, a [...]
New Kid on the Block December 17, 2015 Mark Zuckerberg this month crashed into the list of the most important people in the charity sphere with news of his new philanthropic venture that will result in his giving away 99 per cent of his Facebook fortune. The announcement – made in the form of a letter to his baby daughter – caused a [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s speech transcript in full including stamp duty, business rates and corporation tax announcements November 25, 2015 Mr Speaker, this Spending Review delivers on the commitment we made to the British people that we would put security first. To protect our economic security, by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring down our debt. To protect our national security, by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our [...]
London mayor Boris Johnson wins over delegates at Conservative party conference 2015 as he slams Jeremy Corbyn and ramps up the pressure over Heathrow October 6, 2015 London mayor Boris Johnson won over delegates at the Conservative conference in Manchester today with a wide-ranging speech that fuelled speculation the MP for Uxbridge will challenge chancellor George Osborne to be the party's next leader. Johnson, who sits in the Prime Minister's political cabinet but is often unafraid to challenge the government's positions, used his speech to a packed [...]
Gender equality has become an election issue – but progress remains painfully slow April 20, 2015 Gender equality has been highlighted as an important electoral issue in the political manifestos. All of the main parties want to see better conditions at work for women and they welcomed progress on female representation on boards – vouching to do more, though shying away from embracing quotas. But what is holding women back when [...]
Banking ethics body wins over sceptics April 1, 2015 THE NEW banking ethics group designed to improve behaviour in the City has won over some of its critics, and recruited a heavyweight advisory panel of top industry leaders. Investment banks had initially expressed reservations about joining the group, but today Citi, Morgan Stanley and HSBC all joined the Banking Standards Body’s board. Their enthusiasm [...]