From the moment Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell took the reigns of the Labour Party in 2015 and jerked it leftwards, nationalisation has been touted as an ointment for all the nation’s ills. Energy bills high? Nationalise the suppliers. Trains delayed again? Scrap the franchise model. 70p too dear for …
Read More »Private investors have fallen for Labour’s promises – and made a costly mistake
Political promises should be taken with a pinch of salt. Investors can make expensive mistakes if they change their plans around a pie-in-the-sky manifesto pledge. Take, for example, Labour’s promise to privatise a handful of companies. Many DIY investors took these seriously and sold out, avoiding the risk of any government meddling. On …
Read More »The three reasons why the Conservatives cannot yet assume they are home and dry
This is beginning to look like an election the Conservatives should not lose. The party has gradually squeezed the life out of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. As many as two-thirds of those who voted Leave are now backing Boris Johnson and his Brexit deal. That has given the party a …
Read More »An unholy alliance of Corbyn and Sturgeon would bring the country to its knees
Some elections are a clash of ideas, others a personality contest. The 2019 general election is shaping up to be a process story. Mountains of newsprint and swathes of commentary taken up with questions over the result. Will there be a hung parliament? Which parties could do deals with each …
Read More »BT can be an asset to society, why would Labour attack it now?
BT has gone further to demonstrate its value to wider society by building its strategy around the restoration of its “national champion” status. There’s a bitter irony, then, that this is the moment that Labour has chosen to attack it Despite significant misgivings, a little over three years ago, I went …
Read More »RUTH SUNDERLAND: This election is a battle for soul of capitalism
Battle for soul of capitalism: This election is the most stark choice for the economy since Mrs Thatcher came to power, says RUTH SUNDERLAND By Ruth Sunderland for the Daily Mail Published: 21:50, 17 November 2019 | Updated: 21:58, 17 November 2019 This election presents voters with the most stark …
Read More »Asking men to reveal their salary will end in tears – for women
“If you’re not outraged,” read the quote beneath the Venus symbol on my waitress’s T-shirt the other day, “you’re not paying attention.” Chance would be a fine thing. I realise women are no longer society’s victims-in-chief – toppled, as we have been, by the trans brigade – but it’s hard …
Read More »Labour’s Soviet-style plans for a ‘workers’ democracy’ would create a new union baron elite
Okay, they could picket the polling stations, or call a general strike for December 12. But those two extreme options aside, it is hard to imagine the trade unions could find a more obvious way of influencing the upcoming General Election than calling a postal strike during the campaign. Potentially …
Read More »What will an election mean for the UK stock market?
The UK stock market and the pound are already pricing in a mountain of political risk. Equities listed in London are under-owned by global investors and sterling is flirting with multi-decade lows. But, if Boris Johnson manages to get the election he wants, could a fractious campaign actually make things …
Read More »RUTH SUNDERLAND: Firms should look beyond the small pool of middle-aged male ‘talent’
In what parallel universe did it seem a good idea to appoint Kevin Loosemore, the top boss at battered software business Micro Focus, to be the chairman at De La Rue? Did anyone think investors at the bank-note group would be delighted at his arrival? And what about Micro Focus’ …
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