‘Shocking and widespread malpractice’ should land bankers in jail, says commission
The threat of prison sentences would give bankers “pause for thought” in acting in a reckless, irresponsible and unsustainable manner, according to a major report by the parliamentary commission on banking standards. In its fifth report, the commission, which was set up in the wake of the Libor scandal...
We salute capitalism’s disruptive insurgents
Capitalism works when there is lots of competition. Capitalism thrives through innovation and creative destruction of the status quo. Monopolistic and oligopolistic incumbents are a threat to capitalism. If our government really wants the economy to grow sustainably, it should give its backing to the disruptive insurgents across all...
Mind the energy gap
Three-day weeks and brownouts may seem like a distant and unpleasant memory. We face a similar crisis in the coming decade unless our government acts soon to secure our energy supply. Brownouts will damage our fragile economic recovery through business closures, falling confidence and rising energy prices from imports....
Green versus grey infrastructure
Ben Goldsmith, partner at sustainable investment group WHEB, writes why green trumps grey when it comes to infrastructure. Climate chaos, natural resource scarcity, demographic changes and macroeconomic burdens are challenging governments, especially urban areas, to deal with massive infrastructure issues. Emerging economies need to build new infrastructure and mature...
Energy committee chair Tim Yeo MP steps aside as lobbying claims unfold
Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who recently led a campaign to include a decarbonisation target in the energy bill, has temporarily stood aside as chair of the energy select committee, amid accusations of illegal lobbying. Yeo, who strongly rejects the claims, is alleged to have briefed an energy firm, with...
‘If an election were held tomorrow, Ed Miliband would win by a landslide’
The headline for this piece is taken from a Daily Telegraph article from Wednesday. We imagine our readers will either be horrified or rejoice at the news. With 100 weeks to go until the next UK general election, we look at how the coalition is doing on its agreement...
Government plans could allow communities to reject wind farms
Government proposals to give communities more say over onshore wind developments could make it easier for vocal minorities to prevent projects from happening. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said on Thursday that communities would be financially rewarded – through discounts on their energy bills – for living...
Third sector urged to up its game to capitalise on new social investment measures
One of the UK’s most prolific social investment lenders has welcomed new measures to help push social investment, and urged third sector organisations to seize the opportunity. Triodos Bank, which revealed a 16% growth in lending to social businesses in its annual report in April and featured in Blue...
Bilderberg: a conspiracy against the public?
The Bilderberg Group’s meeting in Watford has caused a flurry of media speculation about its secretive nature and agenda. We do not subscribe to the wilder conspiracy theories, but the group’s existence and secrecy is probably corrosive to democracy. Critics from the left see it as an organisation trying...
David Cameron’s social impact investment speech: full text
“Social investment can be a great force for social change on the planet“, said David Cameron, during a speech at the Social Impact Investment Conference on Thursday. The full text can be found below. It’s great to welcome so many of the world’s top social entrepreneurs and investors to...
Government gives communities a voice in developing ‘truly sustainable’ onshore wind
Communities will be financially rewarded for living near onshore wind developments under new plans unveiled by the government. But the industry has warned that this might deem some projects “uneconomic”. As revealed by the Financial Times on Wednesday, local people are set to be given a voice over wind...
Why ‘sticky’ groups may be the cause of our energy woes
Chris Farrell highlights the easy mistakes we – the trusting public – can make when buying into a group acceptance, when scandalous acts are all too often hidden from view in the name of straightjacketed policies. As children at school we soon learn to make friends. Friends give us strength;...
Government: communities near wind farms could receive bill discounts
Communities near to wind farms should receive electricity discounts of up to 20%, according to government proposals revealed by the Financial Times. Energy secretary Ed Davey is expected to make the suggestion this week as part of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) measures to lay out the...
Energy bill decarbonisation vote: the reaction
A vote to include a 2030 decarbonisation target in the government’s energy bill has been voted down by a majority of 23 MPs in the House of Commons. Here’s the pick of the reaction. Click here to read more about the vote. Tim Yeo, Conservative MP and chairman of...
Attention turns to Lords as Commons votes down energy bill decarbonisation target
Hopes to include a decarbonisation target in the energy bill have taken a hit. MPs narrowly voted against an amendment tabled by Conservative MP Tim Yeo. The amendment, which would have seen a concrete target for 2030 implemented, was voted down by a majority of 23. Just 12 more...
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