Faisal Islam has left Channel 4 News. This is an archive of his blogs.
It was a far bolder speech than I expected from the PM to the capital of capitalism. He described himself as a “monetary radical”, which is a reference to the £275 billion of QE, and presumably the soon-to-be launched credit easing policy. It was a contrast with the European Central Bank and its lack of bazooka.
The UK is probably in recession already, but the growth of the economy since the Oct 2010 spending review is just one tenth of government predictions at the time.
It is the Bank of England governor’s piercing assault on bankers that sticks in the mind from today’s important speech in Brighton. He doesnt quite join Occupy the City, but he does suggest that British capitalism’s very legitimacy is up for grabs if bankers go too far on pay.
Channel 4 News Economics Editor Faisal Islam blogs on the Cabinet and the “snooty so-and-sos” refusing to work for free at Poundland.
Faisal Islam on German overtures on City bank tax
The leaders’ speeches on “moral capitalism” are meaningless, writes Faisal Islam. Britain is no longer in control of its people’s living standards.
History shows that when unemployment reaches today’s level it has always shot much higher, reports Economics Editor Faisal Islam.
Don’t gamble on Scotland’s economy, say critics of independence but David Cameron will now meet the First Minister Alex Salmond to negotiate a referendum.
If rumours of a potential downgrade of France’s AAA credit rating are true, it is of huge significance to the eurozone’s fitful efforts at a long-lasting rescue, writes Economics Editor Faisal Islam.
Ten questions to find out how well Scotland’s economy could survive if it won independence.
The entente is anything but cordiale as the Banque de France lays into the UK over its economic record.
What did the UK “win” in Brussels that justified deploying the tactical weapon of the veto?
In our final Bodleian treasures feature, Faisal Islam assesses the significance of a 1613 trade deal between England and Japan – “of incredible importance to Britain’s political and economic history”.
Whilst the world’s attention has been focused understandably on a supposed “deal” emerging at the European Council summit in Brussels, I have just witnessed an extraordinary press conference from the President of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.
Channel 4 News Economics Editor Faisal Islam says the European Financial Stability Facility bailout fund is being “quietly forgotten” in favour of the European Stability Mechanism.