Monthly Archives: August 2016

Immigration and the ‘left behind’

Statsmeister Michael O’Connor produced this gem of a chart a few weeks ago, breaking down the post-recession employment recovery by region, type of employment and country of birth. It shows how much of the job growth outside London has come from self-employment, … Continue reading

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Are we prepared for post-Polish Britain?

The HR director at an organisation I worked with a few years ago, commenting on people’s refusal to engage with change until the last minute, said: “When a decision is announced in this place it’s a signal for the debate to … Continue reading

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There will be no post-Brexit dividend

I was invited onto Tom Swarbrick’s show on Saturday to comment on Brexit and, particularly, the chancellor’s pledge to maintain the EU spending on agriculture and some scientific projects. As I said on the programme, and as several other people have pointed … Continue reading

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Brexit: Enough David Brent, this is serious!

A few years ago, I was listening to a talk by a coach and motivational speaker who was extolling the virtues of positive thinking and the new empowered, non-hierarchical, collaborative workplace. I said that, while I loved his wonderful image of the … Continue reading

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The not so new illiberalism

Authoritarianism seems to be on the rise, says Chris Dillow, citing the rise of Donald Trump and the Brexit vote. After 30 years of tub thumping about liberty, a style started by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, today’s politicians, he observes, seem to have … Continue reading

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‘I own you’ – work as subordination

“I own you,” Philip Green is alleged to have said to one of his employees, who then replied, “Slavery was over a long time ago.” Which it was, of course. Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834 and the … Continue reading

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The quest for Sir Phillipe’s gold – a short medieval yarn

Scene: In a dark and damp castle, a nervous courtier approaches the king… “Forgive me, your majestie, but I bring grave newwes.” “More bad tydingges? Cah! What occurreth now?” “Ye estates of Sir Phillipe le Vert are laid waste, Sire. What once were … Continue reading

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