How the UK can work with Japan to make the world a safer and more stable place December 4, 2018 The language of diplomacy can sometimes be very general. Diplomats and politicians invoke the idea of “partnerships” and “strong bilateral relations” without making clear to their citizens why they matter or what the benefits might be. Talk about trading opportunities gives a sense of something practical emerging from these sorts of relationship, but trade and investment is just [...]
Google and DeepMind are playing fast and loose with society’s trust November 20, 2018 Last week, we were greeted by the disturbing news that DeepMind, an artificial intelligence subsidiary owned by Google’ s parent company Alphabet, is moving some of its healthcare activities into the newly formed Google Health. This isn’t the first time that one of the tech giants has been accused of making misrepresentations to consumers, using [...]
Capita shares drop after NHS cancer screenings error November 15, 2018 Outsourcing business Capita's share price dropped as much as nine per cent this morning, after it was hit with criticism from the NHS yesterday over its handling of a system error. It was revealed that more than 40,000 women did not receive letters of invitation or reminders regarding NHS cervical cancer screenings from Capita between January [...]
Britain’s economic growth is being stifled by visa red tape November 7, 2018 Political momentum is building to take a fresh look at visa restrictions on international recruitment of skilled people. The most media coverage has rightly been given to the refusal of 1,500 doctors, which the NHS desperately needs. But the government’s strict attitude to migration is causing problems across business professions and public services. The [...]
We must get over our fear of the private sector helping the NHS November 7, 2018 No one at either end of the political spectrum can dispute that the NHS is under significant pressure. From annual winter crises to the challenges of an ageing population, the health service is struggling to keep up with society’s demands. And it’s always non-emergency – though still life-changing – services that are pushed down the [...]
Work should pay – for both high and low earners November 6, 2018 In a tense standoff with Labour MP Wes Streeting last night, chancellor Philip Hammond defended his decision to reduce the burden of income tax in the autumn Budget. The argument, played out in front of the Treasury Select Committee, was classic Tory v Labour fare. Streeting demanded to know why Hammond was cutting taxes instead of [...]
Editor’s Notes: Business chiefs can do great things in politics, but what about the pay cut? November 2, 2018 Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has raised the prospect of senior business figures giving up the boardroom and joining the Foreign Office in the service of their country. When I asked a former senior diplomat, with an alphabet of letters after his name, what he made of this proposal he slapped his hands on his head [...]
Budget 2018: Austerity killed off – if a Brexit horror show is avoided October 31, 2018 | City Talk The 2018 Budget was brought forward this year to avoid a nightmare clash with the Brexit negotiations. It was clear from the Chancellor’s speech that he was keen to avoid a ghoulish backlash from any controversial announcements. Indeed, the majority of policy measures unearthed had been leaked to the press beforehand, leaving Philip Hammond with [...]
This Budget balancing act was Hammond’s mission impossible October 30, 2018 As he stood up to deliver his Autumn Budget yesterday, the chancellor was to fulfil two promises which the Prime Minister had made at the Conservative party conference earlier this month: end austerity, while still reducing public debt as a share of GDP. Fulfilling these pledges will take time, and more details will be unveiled [...]
It’s time to get serious about closing London’s disability employment gap October 30, 2018 It is widely acknowledged that the employment opportunities on offer in London are unmatched by any other major city in the UK. Yet for disabled people, this buoyant jobs market is all too often entirely inaccessible. The disability employment gap – the difference in the employment rate between non-disabled people and disabled people of working [...]