cityam--2020-12-25--The best films to watch on a Tier 4 Christmas day

As many adverts have told us , Christmas will be a bit different this year .
There will be people we won ’ t be able to see , and celebrations we won ’ t be able to have .
However , one thing that 2020 can ’ t take from us is our favourite Christmas films .
Read more : An Italian ( stuck ) abroad : ‘ The hardest part was telling my family ’ Whether you like them as sentimental , dramatic , funny , or action packed , we all have a selection of films that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tradition as mince pies and Shakin ’ Stevens .
Here are our ten favourite Christmas films and where to find them should you need a little bit of vicarious Christmas cheer .
There are numerous oh-so-clever takes on the plot holes of John Hughes and Chris Columbus ’ holiday classic , that grew in stature as the kids who watched it in the 90s become parents themselves .
Personally , we ’ d rather sit back and enjoy the chaos as the charismatic Macaulay Culkin fills his house with booby traps to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern ( Pesci considered it one of his most difficult roles as he couldn ’ t swear ) .
It ’ s funny , it ’ s feelgood , and will appeal as much to youngsters now as it did thirty years ago .
Available on Disney+ , and to rent or buy via most On Demand providers .
Even more tedious than the auditing of Home Alone is the annual debate over whether John McTiernan ’ s action masterpiece is ‘ A Christmas Film ’ .
For us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much connection to Christmas as It ’ s A Wonderful Life , but with a lot more bullets .
Pitting cocky New York cop John McClane ( Bruce Willis ) against the archetypal 80s villain Hans Gruber ( Alan Rickman ) , it ’ s a simple plot but filled with fun twists and excellent dialogue .
Despite many sequels and copycats over the years , no-one has quite been able to capture the same kind of magic .
Available on Now TV and Sky Cinema throughout the Christmas period .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list , we would make the bold claim that this is the best of the many , many versions of A Christmas Carol committed to screen .
It works because of one reason – Michael Caine as Scrooge .
He treats the film like a prestige Oscar movie , acting across from Kermit , Gonzo and the gang as he would with human actors .
This earnest approach allows the Muppets to be at their sentimental best in the first film following Jim Henson ’ s death .
We defy you to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singing One More Sleep ‘ til Christmas to a starry London sky .
Available on Disney+ and On Demand .
A lesser known and more traditional take on the story , this musical version came from the makers of Oliver !
, with Albert Finney winning a Golden Globe for the title role .
It ’ s aged a little bit , particularly one surreal scene set in Hell , but is filled with Christmas cheer and a delightfully camp Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley .
Showing on Christmas Eve at 9.30am on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Video .
Some Christmas films give you a picture of the perfect holiday experience , others give you a vision of disaster .
Chevy Chase was never better as Clark Griswold , a suburban father who just wants a few days of calm festivities but has bedlam inflicted upon him thanks to unexpected visitors and faulty wiring .
It ’ s a comedy that pokes fun at the pressure to have the perfect Christmas , and how often the best memories are made from the things that don ’ t go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9pm on ITV4 , or available on Amazon Prime Video It ’ s always fascinating how a box office flop about a man on the verge of suicide has become a symbol of Christmas .
Deemed too gloomy for post-war audiences on its release , TV repeats made it a yuletide favourite and it holds up seven decades later .
Feature James Stewart as the ultimate everyman , it ’ s a story that reminds us of the hope connected with this time of year , where even the most lost souls can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around them .
Showing on Christmas Eve at 2.35pm on Channel 4 , or available on Now TV .
Three stars of Old Hollywood share in a black and white classic , with Cary Grant playing an angel named Dudley , sent to offer guidance to a frustrated clergyman ( David Niven ) and his frustrated wife Julia ( Loretta Young ) .
Things become a bit more complicated when Dudley falls for Julia , but the gentle humour of the story always assures you that everything will work out for the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast as the bishop with Niven in the angel role , but it is a performance that highlights everything that was great about him .
Available on iPlayer until 16th January .
The 40s were a good time for Christmas movies , and chances are you ’ ve come across the third film on this list in some form .
Remake with Richard Attenborough in the 90s , the original has an irresistible innocence to it .
Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar and Golden Globe as Kris Kringle , a department store Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal , resulting in a court case to prove it .
It ’ s a film about belief , not just in Santa but in what Christmas stands for .
Unashamedly idealistic , its positivity will rub off on you .
Available on Now TV or On Demand .
Like Die Hard , this is a movie that happens at Christmas rather than being about Christmas .
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara fill the air with unspoken desire as two women who fall in love during the holiday season in the 1950s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lovers of Queer Cinema as Todd Haynes ’ gorgeous drama brings Patricia Highsmith ’ s novel to life .
Showing on 23rd December at 1.25am on Film4 , or available on Amazon Prime Video There is a sub-genre of Christmas films that are enjoyable precisely because they ’ re a little bit rubbish .
The producers of the Christopher Reeve Superman films turned to another man who could fly , in a big budget Santa Claus origin story which sees a woodcarver ( future Big Lebowski David Huddleston ) become the symbol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s daft and corny , featuring a sub-plot where a disgruntled elf ( Dudley Moore ) defects to a ruthless businessman ( an OTT John Lithgow ) .
However , it ’ s just silly enough to warm your cynical heart .
Showing on Christmas Eve at 11am on ITV , or available On Demand .

The best films to watch on a Tier 4 Christmas day
The Bishop’s Wife – a perfect festive film
As many adverts have told us, Christmas will be a bit different this year. There will be people we won’t be able to see, and celebrations we won’t be able to have. However, one thing that 2020 can’t take from us is our favourite Christmas films.
Whether you like them as sentimental, dramatic, funny, or action packed, we all have a selection of films that have become as much a part of the tradition as mince pies and Shakin’ Stevens. Here are our ten favourite Christmas films and where to find them should you need a little bit of vicarious Christmas cheer.
Home Alone (1990)
There are numerous oh-so-clever takes on the plot holes of John Hughes and Chris Columbus’ holiday classic, that grew in stature as the kids who watched it in the 90s become parents themselves. Personally, we’d rather sit back and enjoy the chaos as the charismatic Macaulay Culkin fills his house with booby traps to take down two robbers played brilliantly by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern (Pesci considered it one of his most difficult roles as he couldn’t swear). It’s funny, it’s feelgood, and will appeal as much to youngsters now as it did thirty years ago.
Available on Disney+, and to rent or buy via most On Demand providers.
Die Hard (1988)
Even more tedious than the auditing of Home Alone is the annual debate over whether John McTiernan’s action masterpiece is ‘A Christmas Film’. For us, it most certainly is, having as much connection to Christmas as It’s A Wonderful Life, but with a lot more bullets. Pitting cocky New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) against the archetypal 80s villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), it’s a simple plot but filled with fun twists and excellent dialogue. Despite many sequels and copycats over the years, no-one has quite been able to capture the same kind of magic.
Available on Now TV and Sky Cinema throughout the Christmas period.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1993)
The first of two Dickens adaptations on this list, we would make the bold claim that this is the best of the many, many versions of A Christmas Carol committed to screen. It works because of one reason – Michael Caine as Scrooge. He treats the film like a prestige Oscar movie, acting across from Kermit, Gonzo and the gang as he would with human actors.
This earnest approach allows the Muppets to be at their sentimental best in the first film following Jim Henson’s death. We defy you to find something more wholesome than Kermit The Frog singing One More Sleep ‘til Christmas to a starry London sky.
Available on Disney+ and On Demand.
Scrooge (1970)
A lesser known and more traditional take on the story, this musical version came from the makers of Oliver!, with Albert Finney winning a Golden Globe for the title role. It’s aged a little bit, particularly one surreal scene set in Hell, but is filled with Christmas cheer and a delightfully camp Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley.
Showing on Christmas Eve at 9.30am on BBC Two, or available on Amazon Prime Video.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Some Christmas films give you a picture of the perfect holiday experience, others give you a vision of disaster. Chevy Chase was never better as Clark Griswold, a suburban father who just wants a few days of calm festivities but has bedlam inflicted upon him thanks to unexpected visitors and faulty wiring. It’s a comedy that pokes fun at the pressure to have the perfect Christmas, and how often the best memories are made from the things that don’t go to plan.
Showing on Boxing Day at 9pm on ITV4, or available on Amazon Prime Video
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s always fascinating how a box office flop about a man on the verge of suicide has become a symbol of Christmas. Deemed too gloomy for post-war audiences on its release, TV repeats made it a yuletide favourite and it holds up seven decades later. Feature James Stewart as the ultimate everyman, it’s a story that reminds us of the hope connected with this time of year, where even the most lost souls can be reminded what they mean to those around them.
Showing on Christmas Eve at 2.35pm on Channel 4, or available on Now TV.
The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
Three stars of Old Hollywood share in a black and white classic, with Cary Grant playing an angel named Dudley, sent to offer guidance to a frustrated clergyman (David Niven) and his frustrated wife Julia (Loretta Young). Things become a bit more complicated when Dudley falls for Julia, but the gentle humour of the story always assures you that everything will work out for the best. Grant protested playing Dudley, originally cast as the bishop with Niven in the angel role, but it is a performance that highlights everything that was great about him.
Available on iPlayer until 16th January.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
The 40s were a good time for Christmas movies, and chances are you’ve come across the third film on this list in some form. Remake with Richard Attenborough in the 90s, the original has an irresistible innocence to it. Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar and Golden Globe as Kris Kringle, a department store Santa Claus who insists he is the real deal, resulting in a court case to prove it. It’s a film about belief, not just in Santa but in what Christmas stands for. Unashamedly idealistic, its positivity will rub off on you.
Available on Now TV or On Demand.
Carol (2015)
Like Die Hard, this is a movie that happens at Christmas rather than being about Christmas. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara fill the air with unspoken desire as two women who fall in love during the holiday season in the 1950s. It’s become an annual favourite for lovers of Queer Cinema as Todd Haynes’ gorgeous drama brings Patricia Highsmith’s novel to life.
Showing on 23rd December at 1.25am on Film4, or available on Amazon Prime Video
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
There is a sub-genre of Christmas films that are enjoyable precisely because they’re a little bit rubbish. The producers of the Christopher Reeve Superman films turned to another man who could fly, in a big budget Santa Claus origin story which sees a woodcarver (future Big Lebowski David Huddleston) become the symbol of Christmas for millions. It’s daft and corny, featuring a sub-plot where a disgruntled elf (Dudley Moore) defects to a ruthless businessman (an OTT John Lithgow). However, it’s just silly enough to warm your cynical heart.
Showing on Christmas Eve at 11am on ITV, or available On Demand.


cityam--2020-12-25--The history of your Christmas dinner, from steamed sheep's head to traditional turkey

This year will be a Christmas like no other for many of us .
Sadly , there are going to be some people who won ’ t get to spend it with the ones they love .
But whether you are with your close family or on your own , food can help bring a bit of joy to the festive season .
Read more : ‘ We will lose £400k ’ : The cost of Tier 3 for the hospitality sector For me , Christmas is always about indulging , with a slap-up dinner at the heart of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they think turkey , roast potatoes , Brussel sprouts , parsnips , pigs in blankets , stuffing , gravy , and cranberry sauce .
For many , turkey is the centrepiece .
December ’ s favourite dish has come a long way from humble origins to the familiar festive feast we know and love .
The food we eat on 25 December has its roots from before the Middle Ages , but it ’ s the Victorians that gave birth to Christmas as we know it .
Things kicked off in Medieval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , woodcock , venison , and , with the king ’ s permission , swan .
If the poor were lucky , they might get some of the “ pluck ” from the venison—the heart , liver , tongue and brain .
Known as ‘ umbles , it would be mixed with vegetables and spice and made into a pie .
Turkey is at the top of the shopping list for most meat eaters nowadays .
But it took centuries for the big bird to become the go-to main course .
Legend has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first monarch to enjoy turkey on Christmas Day but during the reign of Elizabeth I people were feasting on sweetmeats like slices of bacon , coated with ground almonds and sugar and washing it down with a frothy hot , spiced , cider or ale called lambswool .
Various meats were eaten until Queen Victoria ’ s reign when turkey took the Christmas crown .
However , even then most families couldn ’ t afford turkey at Christmas so made do with beef or goose with the poorest catching rabbits .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ – chefs react to ‘ cruel ’ Tier 3 restrictions Everyone loves a roast potato , and they come with their own history trail to make it onto Christmas plates .
When Europeans began sailing the world , they brought spuds back from South America .
Fast forward a few centuries and it was Queen Victoria again who set the trend to put the humble potato to the Christmas menu .
At the time , however , roast wasn ’ t the potato of choice .
Royals plumped for mash .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to expect certain staples at Christmas .
But during the Second World War , turkey was in short supply .
To keep spirits up people created fake Christmas food such as mock turkey shaped from other meats such as the afore mentioned rabbit or mutton .
In other parts of the world Christmas dinner looks decidedly different .
From roast suckling pig and blood sausage in Puerto Rico , to boiled ham and a side of eggs mixed with anchovies in Sweden , cod and boiled potatoes in Portugal , Jamaican curry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian biryani with chicken or mutton .
In parts of Norway a whole steamed sheep ’ s head is on the menu , with the ear and eye meant to be eaten first while the brain is taken out and served boiled or fried or eaten straight out of the head .
For a special treat the men in Greenland serve the women a meal consisting of strips of whale blubber encased in whale fat and the flesh from birds called auks buried in sealskin for months and served as it begins to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America , the tradition is to eat Chinese food as they ’ re always open on Christmas Day .
While in Japan , Christmas dinner revolves around one of my favourite foods , fried chicken , washed down with some warm sake .
The tradition began in 1974 when KFC launched their ‘ Kentucky for Christmas ’ advertising campaign and it just grew and grew .
If you find yourself alone this year , I say you should still cook yourself a festive feast .
You don ’ t have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spuds – but if you have already bought a lot you can use the leftovers in the days after Christmas for a few easy , stress-free and delicious dinners – and it saves on waste .
It will be hard , but we can get through this .
A bit of guilt free grub and festive cheer is just what we need .
I love nothing more than tucking into all the delights Christmas has to offer and that ’ s exactly what I ’ ll be doing come 25 December .

The history of your Christmas dinner, from steamed sheep’s head to traditional turkey
James Cochran, co-owner and executive chef at Islington’s 12:51
This year will be a Christmas like no other for many of us. Sadly, there are going to be some people who won’t get to spend it with the ones they love. But whether you are with your close family or on your own, food can help bring a bit of joy to the festive season.
For me, Christmas is always about indulging, with a slap-up dinner at the heart of things. When most people think Christmas dinner, they think turkey, roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts, parsnips, pigs in blankets, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. For many, turkey is the centrepiece. December’s favourite dish has come a long way from humble origins to the familiar festive feast we know and love.
The food we eat on 25 December has its roots from before the Middle Ages, but it’s the Victorians that gave birth to Christmas as we know it. Things kicked off in Medieval Britain with the wealthy dining on goose, woodcock, venison, and, with the king’s permission, swan. If the poor were lucky, they might get some of the “pluck” from the venison—the heart, liver, tongue and brain. Known as ‘umbles, it would be mixed with vegetables and spice and made into a pie.
Turkey is at the top of the shopping list for most meat eaters nowadays. But it took centuries for the big bird to become the go-to main course. Legend has it that King Henry VIII was the first monarch to enjoy turkey on Christmas Day but during the reign of Elizabeth I people were feasting on sweetmeats like slices of bacon, coated with ground almonds and sugar and washing it down with a frothy hot, spiced, cider or ale called lambswool.
Various meats were eaten until Queen Victoria’s reign when turkey took the Christmas crown. However, even then most families couldn’t afford turkey at Christmas so made do with beef or goose with the poorest catching rabbits.
Everyone loves a roast potato, and they come with their own history trail to make it onto Christmas plates. When Europeans began sailing the world, they brought spuds back from South America. Fast forward a few centuries and it was Queen Victoria again who set the trend to put the humble potato to the Christmas menu. At the time, however, roast wasn’t the potato of choice. Royals plumped for mash.
By the turn of the 20th century people came to expect certain staples at Christmas. But during the Second World War, turkey was in short supply. To keep spirits up people created fake Christmas food such as mock turkey shaped from other meats such as the afore mentioned rabbit or mutton.
In other parts of the world Christmas dinner looks decidedly different. From roast suckling pig and blood sausage in Puerto Rico, to boiled ham and a side of eggs mixed with anchovies in Sweden, cod and boiled potatoes in Portugal, Jamaican curry goat or stewed oxtail, or an Indian biryani with chicken or mutton.
In parts of Norway a whole steamed sheep’s head is on the menu, with the ear and eye meant to be eaten first while the brain is taken out and served boiled or fried or eaten straight out of the head.
For a special treat the men in Greenland serve the women a meal consisting of strips of whale blubber encased in whale fat and the flesh from birds called auks buried in sealskin for months and served as it begins to decompose.
For many Jewish people living in America, the tradition is to eat Chinese food as they’re always open on Christmas Day. While in Japan, Christmas dinner revolves around one of my favourite foods, fried chicken, washed down with some warm sake. The tradition began in 1974 when KFC launched their ‘Kentucky for Christmas’ advertising campaign and it just grew and grew.
If you find yourself alone this year, I say you should still cook yourself a festive feast. You don’t have to do a whole bird or a heap of spuds – but if you have already bought a lot you can use the leftovers in the days after Christmas for a few easy, stress-free and delicious dinners – and it saves on waste.
It will be hard, but we can get through this. A bit of guilt free grub and festive cheer is just what we need. I love nothing more than tucking into all the delights Christmas has to offer and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing come 25 December.


cityam--2020-12-25--The tragedy of America’s foreign policy establishment

Anthony Blinken was a cut above the rest personally .
Well-educated , good-looking , quietly ironical ( and quite funny ) , absorbed in the work at hand , and keenly intelligent , Tony seemed to be in it for the Republic , rather than himself — a rarity in a town built on often unearned self-promotion .
Read more : Joe Biden could favour Ireland travel corridor over London-New York link – reports Even my trusted deputy , whose job was primarily to protect me from the vipers of the place , said Tony was a man we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in just now looking back at these two analyses of Blinken , I can ’ t help but see the standard description of the best of the Wilsonian hawk advisers that have dominated the foreign policy establishment since the time of Kennedy and have caused so much damage .
They too were charismatic , erudite , high minded , fiercely intelligent , and born to rule .
But the historical record of an analyst must never be predicated primarily on whether they look the part of the statesman , but on whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Best and Brightest ” also enmeshed the United States in the Vietnam War , an act of supreme folly that caused unending personal and geostrategic tragedy .
This is what ultimately matters , not whether someone is particularly clever at a Washington cocktail party .
And it is on his record where Blinken falls down .
Former secretary of defense Robert Gates , a man who served under both a Republican ( George W. Bush ) and Democratic President ( Barack Obama ) , while liking Joe Biden personally , summed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ who has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.
” Read more : Biden set to pick former US Fed chair Janet Yellen as his Treasury Secretary Of course , for the latter portion of this time , Tony Blinken was sitting in the room , serving as the president-elect ’ s primary foreign policy adviser .
Biden and Blinken were catastrophically wrong about the Iraq War ( as were fellow Wilsonian hawks Hillary Clinton and John Kerry , for that matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US remaining endlessly in Afghanistan .
They were wrong about the Obama administration ’ s “ reset ” with Russia .
They were wrong about the disastrous intervention in Libya , which left it a smoldering failed state .
They were wrong about China too , following the blob groupthink over the past two decades in seeing Beijing ’ s rise as fundamentally benign .
The one time Blinken has strayed from his boss , advocating US involvement in the Dantean hell that is Syria , he appeared eager to increase American intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Republican senator Josh Hawley of Missouri put it , Blinken “ backed every endless war since the Iraq invasion ” .
Accountability must matter to any great power — with successful statesmen being rewarded and failing ones sent out to pasture — if it is to remain a great power for long .
To put it mildly , if an analyst wanted to join my political risk firm with Blinken ’ s record , I would send them expeditiously to the door .
What ’ s primarily wrong here is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unreconstructed wrongheaded philosophy of the American foreign policy establishment , a whole misguided way of looking at the world .
As Anatol Lieven and I wrote in Ethical Realism : “ It consists of beliefs that America is both so powerful and so obviously good that it has the ability to spread democracy throughout the world ; that if necessary , this can be achieved through war ; that this mission can be made to advance particular US interests ; and that this combination will naturally be supported by good people all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political traditions , national allegiances , and national interests.
” As a patriot ( and as someone who thinks he is a good man ) , I wish Tony Blinken nothing but the best in his new job .
But , given the recent record of the US foreign policy establishment of which he is a charter member , I fear for him — and more for the country .
Read more : Love him or hate him , Trump is right to wind down America ’ s endless wars

The tragedy of America’s foreign policy establishment
Does Bliken’s record let him down?
Anthony Blinken was a cut above the rest personally. Well-educated, good-looking, quietly ironical (and quite funny), absorbed in the work at hand, and keenly intelligent, Tony seemed to be in it for the Republic, rather than himself — a rarity in a town built on often unearned self-promotion.
Read more: Joe Biden could favour Ireland travel corridor over London-New York link – reports
Even my trusted deputy, whose job was primarily to protect me from the vipers of the place, said Tony was a man we could do business with.
And yet, in just now looking back at these two analyses of Blinken, I can’t help but see the standard description of the best of the Wilsonian hawk advisers that have dominated the foreign policy establishment since the time of Kennedy and have caused so much damage. They too were charismatic, erudite, high minded, fiercely intelligent, and born to rule.
But the historical record of an analyst must never be predicated primarily on whether they look the part of the statesman, but on whether they are statesmen. For JFK’s “Best and Brightest” also enmeshed the United States in the Vietnam War, an act of supreme folly that caused unending personal and geostrategic tragedy.
This is what ultimately matters, not whether someone is particularly clever at a Washington cocktail party.
And it is on his record where Blinken falls down.
Former secretary of defense Robert Gates, a man who served under both a Republican (George W. Bush) and Democratic President (Barack Obama), while liking Joe Biden personally, summed him up in his memoirs as a man “who has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
Read more: Biden set to pick former US Fed chair Janet Yellen as his Treasury Secretary
Of course, for the latter portion of this time, Tony Blinken was sitting in the room, serving as the president-elect’s primary foreign policy adviser.
Biden and Blinken were catastrophically wrong about the Iraq War (as were fellow Wilsonian hawks Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, for that matter). They were wrong about the US remaining endlessly in Afghanistan. They were wrong about the Obama administration’s “reset” with Russia. They were wrong about the disastrous intervention in Libya, which left it a smoldering failed state.
They were wrong about China too, following the blob groupthink over the past two decades in seeing Beijing’s rise as fundamentally benign.
The one time Blinken has strayed from his boss, advocating US involvement in the Dantean hell that is Syria, he appeared eager to increase American intervention, seemingly having learnt nothing from Iraq. As Republican senator Josh Hawley of Missouri put it, Blinken “backed every endless war since the Iraq invasion”.
Accountability must matter to any great power — with successful statesmen being rewarded and failing ones sent out to pasture — if it is to remain a great power for long. To put it mildly, if an analyst wanted to join my political risk firm with Blinken’s record, I would send them expeditiously to the door.
What’s primarily wrong here is not the man himself; it is the unreconstructed wrongheaded philosophy of the American foreign policy establishment, a whole misguided way of looking at the world.
As Anatol Lieven and I wrote in Ethical Realism: “It consists of beliefs that America is both so powerful and so obviously good that it has the ability to spread democracy throughout the world; that if necessary, this can be achieved through war; that this mission can be made to advance particular US interests; and that this combination will naturally be supported by good people all over the world, irrespective of their own political traditions, national allegiances, and national interests.”
As a patriot (and as someone who thinks he is a good man), I wish Tony Blinken nothing but the best in his new job. But, given the recent record of the US foreign policy establishment of which he is a charter member, I fear for him — and more for the country.
Read more: Love him or hate him, Trump is right to wind down America’s endless wars
Main image credit: Getty


cityam--2020-12-25--UK-EU financial services trade set for further negotiations

A Government summary of the UK ’ s post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union indicates further negotiations will be required to establish market access rules for financial services firms .
The document reaffirms “ the integrity of our respective , autonomous equivalence frameworks , ” the Government says .
But specific equivalence deals will be codified in a forthcoming “ memorandum of understanding.
” Read more : City to ‘ thrive like never before , ’ says Prime Minister The agreement also , the Government says , lays the groundwork for continued “ market integrity.
” The document also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially unfettered access to both markets in legal services .
The agreement largely deals with the goods trade , but many await further clarification on what the deal means for services .
Omar Ali , EY ’ s financial services chief , said yesterday that the “ financial services industry is robust and has shown great agility since the Referendum , ” noting that many firms have prepared well .
“ Equivalency isn ’ t just about access ; it ’ s about the cost of doing business , ” he warned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase the cost of doing business for financial services firms and the clients they serve .
”

UK-EU financial services trade set for further negotiations
Photo: Getty
A Government summary of the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union indicates further negotiations will be required to establish market access rules for financial services firms.
The document reaffirms “the integrity of our respective, autonomous
equivalence frameworks,” the Government says.
But specific equivalence deals will be codified in a forthcoming “memorandum of understanding.”
Read more: City to ‘thrive like never before,’ says Prime Minister
The agreement also, the Government says, lays the groundwork for continued “market integrity.”
The document also includes “ground-breaking” provisions allowing for essentially unfettered access to both markets in legal services.
The agreement largely deals with the goods trade, but many await further clarification on what the deal means for services.
Omar Ali, EY’s financial services chief, said yesterday that the “financial services industry is robust and has shown great agility since the Referendum,” noting that many firms have prepared well.
“Equivalency isn’t just about access; it’s about the cost of doing business,” he warned.
“A lack of equivalence decisions would increase the cost of doing business for financial services firms and the clients they serve.”


cityam--2020-12-26--Brits to splash out £2.7bn across Britain as virtual sales kick off

Retailers are expected to enjoy a bumper Boxing Day as Brits head to online and physical sales .
New data from Barclaycard suggests Brits could spend as much as £2.7bn across the January sales .
Read more : Free ports and smart investment are the Brexit prize , says Gove But data from the West End ’ s leading retailers paints a more worrying picture of the year as a whole .
The New West End Company has released estimates that reveal the shopping hotspot ’ s stores have missed out on 80 per cent of its usual year-on-year sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street , Regent Street and the shopping streets of Mayfair have been unabke to enjoy the usual pre-Christmas rush , as well as the Boxing Day sales , after the capital was plunged first into Tier 3 and then Tier 4 restrictions .
Jace Tyrell , Chief Executive of the New West End Company , acknowledged the public health emergency but said it “ is with a heavy heart that retailers once again are missing out on vital trading dates such as Boxing Day.
” “ It is imperative that the Government continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial support for viable West End businesses , who , through no fault of their own , have invested millions in being Covid-secure , only to be forced to close , ” they continued .
“ With a common-sense approach to policy , the West End , which is an economic powerhouse for a global Britain , can not only survive but thrive once again .
”

Brits to splash out £2.7bn across Britain as virtual sales kick off
(Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
Retailers are expected to enjoy a bumper Boxing Day as Brits head to online and physical sales.
New data from Barclaycard suggests Brits could spend as much as £2.7bn across the January sales.
Read more: Free ports and smart investment are the Brexit prize, says Gove
But data from the West End’s leading retailers paints a more worrying picture of the year as a whole.
The New West End Company has released estimates that reveal the shopping hotspot’s stores have missed out on 80 per cent of its usual year-on-year sales in the run-up to Christmas.
Oxford Street, Regent Street and the shopping streets of Mayfair have been unabke to enjoy the usual pre-Christmas rush, as well as the Boxing Day sales, after the capital was plunged first into Tier 3 and then Tier 4 restrictions.
Jace Tyrell, Chief Executive of the New West End Company, acknowledged the public health emergency but said it “is with a heavy heart that retailers once again are missing out on vital trading dates such as Boxing Day.”
“It is imperative that the Government continues and builds upon its current measures and financial support for viable West End businesses, who, through no fault of their own, have invested millions in being Covid-secure, only to be forced to close,” they continued.
“With a common-sense approach to policy, the West End, which is an economic powerhouse for a global Britain, can not only survive but thrive once again.”
Read more: Legendary nightspot Langan’s saved from administration


cityam--2020-12-26--Langan's for a substantial meal? Legendary nightspot saved from administration

Mayfair nightspot Langan ’ s has been saved from administration and will relaunch in the Autumn .
The brasserie had looked set to be one of the casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic , with the restaurant either shut or operating at reduced capacity for almost a year .
Wanted : A minister for hospitalityRead more : Wanted : A Minister for Hospitality But Oakley Capital founder Peter Dubens has led a group of wealthy individuals into ownership of the London icon , according to multiple reports .
The brasserie will relaunch in the autumn after a revamp .
Other legendary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cafe de Paris has been forced to shut its doors for good .
The nightclub had previously attempted to stay open even during the worst of the blitz , until a German bomb landed a direct hit .
It reopened seven years later , but there are no plans to do the same after Covid-19 .
Pubs , bars and clubs have called on the Chancellor to provide more support after a torrid 2020 , with new mutant strains of Covid-19 looking set to push back any return to normality for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plead for help amid Tier 4 restrictions

Langan’s for a substantial meal? Legendary nightspot saved from administration
Getty Images for Moet Hennessy
Mayfair nightspot Langan’s has been saved from administration and will relaunch in the Autumn.
The brasserie had looked set to be one of the casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the restaurant either shut or operating at reduced capacity for almost a year.
Wanted: A minister for hospitalityRead more: Wanted: A Minister for Hospitality
But Oakley Capital founder Peter Dubens has led a group of wealthy individuals into ownership of the London icon, according to multiple reports.
The brasserie will relaunch in the autumn after a revamp.
Other legendary London nightspots have not been so lucky.
Cafe de Paris has been forced to shut its doors for good. The nightclub had previously attempted to stay open even during the worst of the blitz, until a German bomb landed a direct hit.
It reopened seven years later, but there are no plans to do the same after Covid-19.
Pubs, bars and clubs have called on the Chancellor to provide more support after a torrid 2020, with new mutant strains of Covid-19 looking set to push back any return to normality for the hospitality industry.
Read more: Businesses plead for help amid Tier 4 restrictions


cityam--2020-12-26--Gove: Free ports and smart regulation the prize of Brexit deal

Michael Gove has said that free ports , business-friendly regulation and ‘ smart ’ interventions to support entrepreneurs are the benefits of leaving the European Union .
Writing today , the Cabinet Office minister also says that businesses have the “ certainty and the ability to plan for growth and investment.
” Read more : Opinion – forget Brexit , the EU is circling into decline The UK ’ s post-Brexit trade deal was struck on Christmas Eve , a week before the UK leaves the single market and the customs union .
It will be ratified in a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes in The Times that the deal allows Britain to “ establish free ports , bringing innovation and investment to parts of the country that have endured economic decline.
” He also pledges to develop “ a smarter regulatory framework in new and emerging areas of technology , from the life sciences to AI , which can bring jobs to areas which have been neglected .
We can intervene more smartly to support scientists and tech entrepreneurs.
” “ Firms will immediately study the deals , when they can , to understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body ’ s Director General said .
“ The UK has a bright future outside the European Union , and with a deal secured we can begin our new chapter on firmer ground.
” Read more : Deal paves way for more negotiations on financial services

Gove: Free ports and smart regulation the prize of Brexit deal
(Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
Michael Gove has said that free ports, business-friendly regulation and ‘smart’ interventions to support entrepreneurs are the benefits of leaving the European Union.
Writing today, the Cabinet Office minister also says that businesses have the “certainty and the ability to plan for growth and investment.”
Read more: Opinion – forget Brexit, the EU is circling into decline
The UK’s post-Brexit trade deal was struck on Christmas Eve, a week before the UK leaves the single market and the customs union.
It will be ratified in a vote in Westminster on December 30.
Gove writes in The Times that the deal allows Britain to “establish free ports, bringing innovation and investment to parts of the country that have endured economic decline.”
He also pledges to develop “a smarter regulatory framework in new and emerging areas of technology, from the life sciences to AI, which can bring jobs to areas which have been neglected. We can intervene more smartly to support scientists and tech entrepreneurs.”
The CBI welcomed the Christmas Eve accord.
“Firms will immediately study the deals, when they can, to understand the implications for their companies,” the body’s Director General said.
“The UK has a bright future outside the European Union, and with a deal secured we can begin our new chapter on firmer ground.”
Read more: Deal paves way for more negotiations on financial services


cityam--2020-12-26--The Women's Super League Team of the Year 2020, according to quantitative analysis

Who should be in the Women ’ s Super League team of 2020 ?
Using quantitative analysis derived from investment banking , Matthew Belford and Jack Morris of Carteret Analytics have selected an XI for City A.M. How the XI was selected The players chosen for this Women ’ s Super League Team of the Year 2020 have been selected based on their Carteret Rating .
a highly accurate and objective proprietary algorithm developed to determine how good a player is by assessing their overall contribution to their team winning football matches .
The data from every WSL match played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WSL Team of the Year 2020 .
Read more : What the tech happened to sport in 2020 ?
The WSL Team of the Year 2020 Quantitative data analysis shows that objectively Manchester City ’ s Ellie Roebuck ( Carteret Rating 218.8 ) was the best performing goalkeeper in 2020 .
The radar chart below ) compares Roebuck to Arsenal ’ s Manuela Zinsberger ( Carteret Rating 215.4 ) , the second-best goalkeeper in the WSL .
The data suggests that it is Roebuck ’ s Distribution and Game Control attributes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scatter graph below plots each defender in the Women ’ s Super League plotted and shows that all but one of our selected defenders are on a positive trajectory .
Jonna Andersson ( Carteret Rating 214.0 ) is still objectively one of the best defenders in the league , however , by her own standards , she is struggling to find the form she displayed in the 2019-20 season .
Arsenal centre-back Leah Williamson ( Carteret Rating 219.9 ) is showing the greatest level of improvement within our selection , up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
Despite this , the data suggests that overall , Maren Mjelde ( Carteret Rating 221.1 ) is still the strongest defender in the league .
Gemma Bonner ( Carteret Rating 213.0 ) has the highest level of consistency among the defenders when compared to 2019-20 ratings .
The data analysis indicates that the best performing WSL midfielders in 2020 were Arsenal ’ s Kim Little ( Carteret Rating 281.5 ) and Jill Roord ( 253.0 ) , Manchester City ’ s Caroline Weir ( 269.6 ) and Chelsea ’ s Ji @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar in the chart below shows that , of the four selected players , Weir demonstrates the strongest matchplay attributes in all but one of the five categories .
Interestingly , Weir does not have the highest Carteret Rating of the four players .
She is objectively the second-best midfielder in the WSL according our scoring system , behind the highly experienced Little .
At 25 , Weir is yet to reach her peak .
Data analysis shows that WSL players reach their optimal performance levels between the ages of 27 and 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in the top 25th percentile of the Game Changer attribute when compared to all other WSL midfielders , suggesting that they all have the ability to transform a match .
Recent media articles have suggested that Vivianne Miedema is one of the best centre-forwards in the world .
This is supported by the data analysis which shows that Miedema has the highest Carteret Rating ( 389.3 ) of any WSL player in 2020 .
The stacked bar chart below shows a direct comparison of the matchplay attributes of Miedema and objectively the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chelsea ’ s Bethany England ( Carteret Rating 299.3 ) .
Arsenal ’ s Miedema dominates England when comparing their Game Changer attribute but does not offer her team as much in Defensive attributes .
Miedema has demonstrated a Carteret Rating over 370.0 in each of the previous three seasons and continues to perform at this exceptionally high level in the current 2020-21 season .
Matthew Belford is a director and Jack Morris a corporate analyst at the Carteret Group .
For more details on Carteret Analytics , their research and methodology , @ @ @

The Women’s Super League Team of the Year 2020, according to quantitative analysis
The new TV deal will provide a major boost to the finances of the 12 Women’s Super League clubs
Who should be in the Women’s Super League team of 2020? Using quantitative analysis derived from investment banking, Matthew Belford and Jack Morris of Carteret Analytics have selected an XI for City A.M.
How the XI was selected
The players chosen for this Women’s Super League Team of the Year 2020 have been selected based on their Carteret Rating. a highly accurate and objective proprietary algorithm developed to determine how good a player is by assessing their overall contribution to their team winning football matches. The data from every WSL match played in 2020 has been analysed to select the WSL Team of the Year 2020.
The WSL Team of the Year 2020
Goalkeeper
Quantitative data analysis shows that objectively Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck (Carteret Rating 218.8) was the best performing goalkeeper in 2020.
The radar chart below) compares Roebuck to Arsenal’s Manuela Zinsberger (Carteret Rating 215.4), the second-best goalkeeper in the WSL.
The data suggests that it is Roebuck’s Distribution and Game Control attributes that set her apart from her closest rival.
Defenders
The scatter graph below plots each defender in the Women’s Super League plotted and shows that all but one of our selected defenders are on a positive trajectory.
Jonna Andersson (Carteret Rating 214.0) is still objectively one of the best defenders in the league, however, by her own standards, she is struggling to find the form she displayed in the 2019-20 season.
Arsenal centre-back Leah Williamson (Carteret Rating 219.9) is showing the greatest level of improvement within our selection, up 5 per cent on her performances last season.
Despite this, the data suggests that overall, Maren Mjelde (Carteret Rating 221.1) is still the strongest defender in the league.
Gemma Bonner (Carteret Rating 213.0) has the highest level of consistency among the defenders when compared to 2019-20 ratings.
Midfielders
The data analysis indicates that the best performing WSL midfielders in 2020 were Arsenal’s Kim Little (Carteret Rating 281.5) and Jill Roord (253.0), Manchester City’s Caroline Weir (269.6) and Chelsea’s Ji So-yun (262.7).
The horizontal bar in the chart below shows that, of the four selected players, Weir demonstrates the strongest matchplay attributes in all but one of the five categories.
Interestingly, Weir does not have the highest Carteret Rating of the four players. She is objectively the second-best midfielder in the WSL according our scoring system, behind the highly experienced Little.
At 25, Weir is yet to reach her peak. Data analysis shows that WSL players reach their optimal performance levels between the ages of 27 and 29.
All four of the selected midfielders are in the top 25th percentile of the Game Changer attribute when compared to all other WSL midfielders, suggesting that they all have the ability to transform a match.
Centre-forwards
Recent media articles have suggested that Vivianne Miedema is one of the best centre-forwards in the world. This is supported by the data analysis which shows that Miedema has the highest Carteret Rating (389.3) of any WSL player in 2020.
The stacked bar chart below shows a direct comparison of the matchplay attributes of Miedema and objectively the second best centre-forward in the league, Chelsea’s Bethany England (Carteret Rating 299.3).
Arsenal’s Miedema dominates England when comparing their Game Changer attribute but does not offer her team as much in Defensive attributes.
Miedema has demonstrated a Carteret Rating over 370.0 in each of the previous three seasons and continues to perform at this exceptionally high level in the current 2020-21 season.
Matthew Belford is a director and Jack Morris a corporate analyst at the Carteret Group. For more details on Carteret Analytics, their research and methodology, see here.


cityam--2020-12-26--Cultural shift and digital savvy will see us accelerate our IPO plans

The end of a year is usually a time for companies to reflect and look back at goals reached , lessons learned and ways to continue progressing in the months ahead .
We are excited about what 2021 has in store .
We have been open about seeking a listing on London Stock Exchange , a first step in our next growth phase but the vast changes in consumer behaviour have played a large role in our decision to accelerate our IPO plans .
PensionBee has grown rapidly in recent years but 2020 has been our busiest year yet ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift to online which has seen an increasing number of customers turning to us to help them manage their pensions online .
Read more : A new ‘ super fund ’ scheme for pensions hails change in the industry There is an evident trend of people using the additional time during lockdown as an opportunity to review their finances and look for ways to further their money .
This has led to increased customer engagement and a sharp uptick in new PensionBee customers since the onset of the pandemic – we are thrilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers and over £1.1 billion in assets under administration .
We are a fast-growing , ambitious company , and an IPO continues to be a part of our long-term strategy .
Going public is aligned with our core values of transparency and upholding high corporate governance standards .
Moreover , being a public company will allow us to continue our growth trajectory alongside our commitment to championing the consumer and acting responsibly in support of wider society .
For example , this year we have deepened our focus on sustainability and launched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been fighting for greater transparency in the pensions industry for several years , and we will never stop doing so , and we will work with our savers to continue to make positive changes in the world .
London is right for us For any company planning to go public , one of the key considerations is where to IPO .
Our plan has always been to IPO in London at the right time for us .
For all of the advantages that the London market offers companies , this will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly-respected London stage and , importantly , give PensionBee access to global growth capital .
We are exploring the High Growth Segment of London Stock Exchange ’ s Main Market , which would be a perfect vehicle as it was exclusively designed for rapidly growing companies like ours .
It supports founders as they continue to scale their business , creates a quality benchmark , and requires a three year compound revenue growth of 20 % to join .
We have seen how this has been a fantastic pathway towards the Premium segment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch an IPO this would just be the beginning of the next stage of our journey .
Crucially , we are a customer-focused business and we would want to give our customers an opportunity to participate in any IPO .
Floating in London on the High Growth Segment is one way that would allow customers to share in our journey – our dedication to our customers is something that will never change , no matter how much we grow in size .
Our customer-centric approach has been particularly important this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many are facing has meant that the care we have for our customers has resonated with savers during this period .
This fast-growing consumer demand , exacerbated by the rapid change in behaviour towards online channels , signals a bright future ahead for PensionBee .
We look forward to continuing to be a force for good in the industry , amplifying our customers ’ voices and working to change the industry for the better .
Read more : London IPO market still floating on despite Covid-19 chaos

Cultural shift and digital savvy will see us accelerate our IPO plans
CEO Romi Savova was one of the founders of PensionBee in 2014.
The end of a year is usually a time for companies to reflect and look back at goals reached, lessons learned and ways to continue progressing in the months ahead. We are excited about what 2021 has in store.
We have been open about seeking a listing on London Stock Exchange, a first step in our next growth phase but the vast changes in consumer behaviour have played a large role in our decision to accelerate our IPO plans.
PensionBee has grown rapidly in recent years but 2020 has been our busiest year yet; the pandemic has brought about a cultural shift to online which has seen an increasing number of customers turning to us to help them manage their pensions online.
Read more: A new ‘super fund’ scheme for pensions hails change in the industry
There is an evident trend of people using the additional time during lockdown as an opportunity to review their finances and look for ways to further their money.
This has led to increased customer engagement and a sharp uptick in new PensionBee customers since the onset of the pandemic – we are thrilled to now have more than 100,000 active customers and over £1.1 billion in assets under administration.
We are a fast-growing, ambitious company, and an IPO continues to be a part of our long-term strategy. Going public is aligned with our core values of transparency and upholding high corporate governance standards.
Moreover, being a public company will allow us to continue our growth trajectory alongside our commitment to championing the consumer and acting responsibly in support of wider society. For example, this year we have deepened our focus on sustainability and launched a new Fossil Fuel Free Fund.
We have been fighting for greater transparency in the pensions industry for several years, and we will never stop doing so, and we will work with our savers to continue to make positive changes in the world.
London is right for us
For any company planning to go public, one of the key considerations is where to IPO.
Our plan has always been to IPO in London at the right time for us. For all of the advantages that the London market offers companies, this will also allow us to stand out on the highly-respected London stage and, importantly, give PensionBee access to global growth capital.
We are exploring the High Growth Segment of London Stock Exchange’s Main Market, which would be a perfect vehicle as it was exclusively designed for rapidly growing companies like ours.
It supports founders as they continue to scale their business, creates a quality benchmark, and requires a three year compound revenue growth of 20% to join. We have seen how this has been a fantastic pathway towards the Premium segment. We know that if we were to launch an IPO this would just be the beginning of the next stage of our journey.
Crucially, we are a customer-focused business and we would want to give our customers an opportunity to participate in any IPO. Floating in London on the High Growth Segment is one way that would allow customers to share in our journey – our dedication to our customers is something that will never change, no matter how much we grow in size.
Our customer-centric approach has been particularly important this year. The immense uncertainty and challenges that so many are facing has meant that the care we have for our customers has resonated with savers during this period.
This fast-growing consumer demand, exacerbated by the rapid change in behaviour towards online channels, signals a bright future ahead for PensionBee. We look forward to continuing to be a force for good in the industry, amplifying our customers’ voices and working to change the industry for the better.
Read more: London IPO market still floating on despite Covid-19 chaos


cityam--2020-12-26--Exclusive: PensionBee accelerate IPO plans after lockdown growth

PensionBee boss Romi Savova has said her firm will accelerate its plans for London IPO after Brits increasingly turned online for financial advice during 2020 .
“ There is an evident trend of people using the additional time during lockdown as an opportunity to review their finances and look for ways to further their money , ” the founder writes for us today .
Read more : Free ports and investment the prize for leaving the EU , says Gove The firm saw a sharp uptick in new customers since the onset of the pandemic in March , and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Savova also confirmed that they are looking towards the High Growth segment of the London Stock Exchange as the likely home for their float .
“ For all of the advantages that the London market offers companies this will also allow us to stand out on the highly-respected London stage and , importantly , give PensionBee access to global growth capital , ” she says .
The High Growth Segment would also allow PensionBee customers to participate in the IPO , one of the main reasons for looking to that particular IPO @ @

Exclusive: PensionBee accelerate IPO plans after lockdown growth
(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
PensionBee boss Romi Savova has said her firm will accelerate its plans for London IPO after Brits increasingly turned online for financial advice during 2020.
“There is an evident trend of people using the additional time during lockdown as an opportunity to review their finances and look for ways to further their money,” the founder writes for us today.
Read more: Free ports and investment the prize for leaving the EU, says Gove
The firm saw a sharp uptick in new customers since the onset of the pandemic in March, and now holds over £1.1bn in assets under administration.
Savova also confirmed that they are looking towards the High Growth segment of the London Stock Exchange as the likely home for their float.
“For all of the advantages that the London market offers companies this will also allow us to stand out on the highly-respected London stage and, importantly, give PensionBee access to global growth capital,” she says.
The High Growth Segment would also allow PensionBee customers to participate in the IPO, one of the main reasons for looking to that particular IPO springboard.


cityam--2020-12-27--Mayor bids for developer levy to fund replacement cladding work

Sadiq Khan has called on Whitehall to introduce a £3bn levy on private housing developers to fund replacement cladding work .
Thousands of Londoners , both in the private and social housing sector , are still awaiting replacement cladding work on their properties after the Grenfell Tower disaster exposed serious safety issues .
Read more : Mayor warns of toughest Christmas for the capital since World War II The Mayor is proposing a one-off tax raid on the profits of developers over the last decade .
City Hall analysis shared by the Mayor ’ s team suggests that publicly listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits in that period .
The 10 per cent levy would “ raise at least £3bn to carry out remediation work , ” City Hall said .
Many private tenants have seen their properties made almost unsellable due to the cost of replacement cladding , which they are in most cases being asked to foot the bill for .
Whereas in social housing , a combination of developers , local authorities and Government funding have meant a number of properties have not had the replacement cladding fitted .
City Hall said the levy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new home from 20 to 18.7 per cent .
The Mayor of London , Sadiq Khan said : “ I have always been clear that the responsibility for funding building safety work must lie with Government .
However , we can not deny the role that industry has played in making decisions that have compromised the safety of buildings .
”

Mayor bids for developer levy to fund replacement cladding work
Home REIT is suffering further embarassment
Sadiq Khan has called on Whitehall to introduce a £3bn levy on private housing developers to fund replacement cladding work.
Thousands of Londoners, both in the private and social housing sector, are still awaiting replacement cladding work on their properties after the Grenfell Tower disaster exposed serious safety issues.
Read more: Mayor warns of toughest Christmas for the capital since World War II
The Mayor is proposing a one-off tax raid on the profits of developers over the last decade.
City Hall analysis shared by the Mayor’s team suggests that publicly listed housebuilders have brought home £30bn-worth of pre-tax profits in that period.
The 10 per cent levy would “raise at least £3bn to carry out remediation work,” City Hall said.
Many private tenants have seen their properties made almost unsellable due to the cost of replacement cladding, which they are in most cases being asked to foot the bill for.
Whereas in social housing, a combination of developers, local authorities and Government funding have meant a number of properties have not had the replacement cladding fitted.
City Hall said the levy would cut the typical profit margin of a new home from 20 to 18.7 per cent.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I have always been clear that the responsibility for funding building safety work must lie with Government. However, we cannot deny the role that industry has played in making decisions that have compromised the safety of buildings.”


cityam--2020-12-27--Wine drinkers toast Brexit deal as French clarets, German rieslings and UK sparkling wine escape reg

Wine drinkers will have reason to celebrate at least one aspect of the Brexit deal , industry insiders say , after it emerged it will cut red tape for wine exporters and importers .
Insiders had feared that the UK ’ s departure would entail an additional , costly regulation – in the form of the VI-1 certificate – after the UK ’ s departure .
Read more : Brexit deal lays ground for further negotiations on financial services However , that has been replaced with a far simpler import certificate , meaning the cost of a bottle on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after December 31 .
“ Tucked away in the annexes to the agreement , ” said Miles Beale , Chief Exec of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association , “ there is good news for the wine sector and the UK ’ s 33 million wine drinkers.
” “ This is a good first step towards abolishing unnecessary and costly red tape .
This is not only good news for UK wine businesses but also UK consumers who won ’ t see wine prices rocket , ” he continued .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for UK businesses who import wine from outside the EU and then send it on to Northern Ireland or the rest of the EU .
That means importers of Australian reds based in London , who then ship across the continent , could be in line for burdensome and costly regulation .
“ Businesses are still waiting on the UK Government to confirm the details necessary to complete the paperwork , ” said Beale .
“ With less than a week to go before businesses shipping wine to the EU will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable that they are still in the dark about the forms and processes required.
” Read more : How did your Christmas dinner evolve into today ’ s turkey-fest ?
City A.M. investigates

Wine drinkers toast Brexit deal as French clarets, German rieslings and UK sparkling wine escape regulatory burdens
The fruits of harvesters in Rivesaltes, France, will be accessible to UK consumers without burdensome regulation. (Photo by Julien Goldstein/Getty Images)
Wine drinkers will have reason to celebrate at least one aspect of the Brexit deal, industry insiders say, after it emerged it will cut red tape for wine exporters and importers.
Insiders had feared that the UK’s departure would entail an additional, costly regulation – in the form of the VI-1 certificate – after the UK’s departure.
Read more: Brexit deal lays ground for further negotiations on financial services
However, that has been replaced with a far simpler import certificate, meaning the cost of a bottle on the supermarket shelf should not go up dramatically after December 31.
“Tucked away in the annexes to the agreement,” said Miles Beale, Chief Exec of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, “there is good news for the wine sector and the UK’s 33 million wine drinkers.”
“This is a good first step towards abolishing unnecessary and costly red tape. This is not only good news for UK wine businesses but also UK consumers who won’t see wine prices rocket,” he continued.
However, the costly certificate will still be in place for UK businesses who import wine from outside the EU and then send it on to Northern Ireland or the rest of the EU.
That means importers of Australian reds based in London, who then ship across the continent, could be in line for burdensome and costly regulation.
“Businesses are still waiting on the UK Government to confirm the details necessary to complete the paperwork,” said Beale.
“With less than a week to go before businesses shipping wine to the EU will need to complete these forms, it is simply unacceptable that they are still in the dark about the forms and processes required.”
Read more: How did your Christmas dinner evolve into today’s turkey-fest? City A.M. investigates


cityam--2020-12-27--Footfall collapses on Boxing Day as retailers count the cost of restrictions

Retailers across the country saw one of their busiest days of the year end with a whimper rather than a bang as Covid-19 restrictions saw High Street footfall collapse .
Across the country , retail footfall fell by 60 per cent , according to market watcher Springboard .
Read more : Retailers hope for a digital boost but the end of 2020 can ’ t come soon enough And even in Tier 2 and 3 areas , where non-essential retail remains open , footfall fell by 38 per cent and 42 per cent respectively .
Retailers have felt the hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was plunged into the highest ‘ Tier 4 ’ restrictions , closing shops on top of already-closed hospitality businesses .
West End retailers have told City A.M. that even with online traffic up on previous years , they expect to lose some 80 per cent of year-on-year sales .
“ The West End ’ s businesses have demonstrated immense resilience , but if they are to survive into next year , they need reassurance and support in bridging the gap until sales can resume , ” said Chief Exec of the New West @ @ @ @ @

Footfall collapses on Boxing Day as retailers count the cost of restrictions
(Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
Retailers across the country saw one of their busiest days of the year end with a whimper rather than a bang as Covid-19 restrictions saw High Street footfall collapse.
Across the country, retail footfall fell by 60 per cent, according to market watcher Springboard.
Read more: Retailers hope for a digital boost but the end of 2020 can’t come soon enough
And even in Tier 2 and 3 areas, where non-essential retail remains open, footfall fell by 38 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.
Retailers have felt the hit of restrictions since much of the country was plunged into the highest ‘Tier 4’ restrictions, closing shops on top of already-closed hospitality businesses.
West End retailers have told City A.M. that even with online traffic up on previous years, they expect to lose some 80 per cent of year-on-year sales.
“The West End’s businesses have demonstrated immense resilience, but if they are to survive into next year, they need reassurance and support in bridging the gap until sales can resume,” said Chief Exec of the New West End Company Jace Tyrell.


cityam--2020-12-27--Excusez-moi: UK set to surge past French economy in decade to come

The UK ’ s economy is set to remain the fifth largest in the world , according to a respected annual report , and to surge ahead of cross-channel rivals despite Brexit .
The Centre for Economics and Business Research ’ s annual tally of the world ’ s leading economies sees the UK retake fifth place from India .
Read more : Brexit deal lays groundwork for future negotiations on financial services And by 2035 , the researchers assess , Britain ’ s economy will be some 23 per cent larger than France .
Douglas McWilliams , Deputy Chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK ’ s strengths in digital and creative services as evidence of the country ’ s future-proofed economic strength .
“ We have a huge competitive advantage in this tech0based sector which the pandemic has kicked forward .
Most of this is pretty Brexit-proof provided the UK continues to attract talented people , ” he said .
The Brexit deal signed last week by Prime Minister Boris Johnson will allow the UK more flexibility on immigration rules , though free movement will end .
Advocates point to the advantages of a system which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come here , though critics question the impact of preventing free market on the wider economy and on our global standing .
The report also sees the US kicked off top spot by China towards the end of this decade .

Excusez-moi: UK set to surge past French economy in decade to come
Christopher Furlough / Getty
The UK’s economy is set to remain the fifth largest in the world, according to a respected annual report, and to surge ahead of cross-channel rivals despite Brexit.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research’s annual tally of the world’s leading economies sees the UK retake fifth place from India.
Read more: Brexit deal lays groundwork for future negotiations on financial services
And by 2035, the researchers assess, Britain’s economy will be some 23 per cent larger than France.
Douglas McWilliams, Deputy Chair of the CEBR, pointed to the UK’s strengths in digital and creative services as evidence of the country’s future-proofed economic strength.
“We have a huge competitive advantage in this tech0based sector which the pandemic has kicked forward. Most of this is pretty Brexit-proof provided the UK continues to attract talented people,” he said.
The Brexit deal signed last week by Prime Minister Boris Johnson will allow the UK more flexibility on immigration rules, though free movement will end.
Advocates point to the advantages of a system which will allow the best and brightest to come here, though critics question the impact of preventing free market on the wider economy and on our global standing.
The report also sees the US kicked off top spot by China towards the end of this decade.


cityam--2020-12-27--The top gadgets of 2020, from the iPhone 12 to the first next gen console

It already feels like a cliche to describe 2020 as a year we ’ d rather forget .
But it was also a year we found different ways to communicate with each other , and sought solace in digital escapism .
In no particular order , here are our favourite gadgets of 2020 , with links to our full reviews .
One of the most hotly anticipated electronics releases of the year , the Xbox Series X did not disappoint .
This is a stunning machine that makes its asking price of £449 feel like a bit of a steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is always one of the highlights of the year in tech but the advent of the 12 Pro Max was something particurlarly special , recalling the design brilliance of the iPhone 4 and combining it with processing power and a camera array that will keep you aheqad of the pack for years to come .
The specifications of top-tier flagship phones have been plateauing for a while .
With the Pixel 5 , Google breaks from its usual strategy of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Samsung .
Instead the focus is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more affordable 5G phone – one we can wholeheartedly recommend .
The Hue Sync Box synchronises your Hue smart bulbs to your television , changing the colour and intensity of individual lights in the room based on what ’ s happening on the screen .
On paper that might sound like a gimmick , but in practice the effect is unexpectedly mesmerising .
The box sits between up to four HDMI-enabled media devices – your Amazon Fire TV , set-top box , Chromecast – as the Hue Sync algorithm intelligently picks out which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning the whole room into an extension of the screen .
it ’ s more important than ever to ensure your home office is set up to make remote working as seamless and as functional as being at your desk .
The Logitech StreamCam is a key component of this puzzle , a webcam geared for live streaming and content creators , but with a sharp and smooth 1080p and 60fps output that broadcasts your face to virtual meetings with uncanny fidelity .
Since the original Surface Pro launched in 2013 , Microsoft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a value proposition most business users have found hard to resist : the form factor of an iPad , but with the functionality of a Windows PC .
The Surface Pro 7 achieves this near-seamlessly , offering a fully compatible desktop experience on a machine smaller than a sheet of A4 .

The top gadgets of 2020, from the iPhone 12 to the first next gen console
It already feels like a cliche to describe 2020 as a year we’d rather forget. But it was also a year we found different ways to communicate with each other, and sought solace in digital escapism. In no particular order, here are our favourite gadgets of 2020, with links to our full reviews.
Xbox Series X
The new “tower” design of the Xbox Series X
One of the most hotly anticipated electronics releases of the year, the Xbox Series X did not disappoint. This is a stunning machine that makes its asking price of £449 feel like a bit of a steal.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro Max
The release of a new iPhone is always one of the highlights of the year in tech but the advent of the 12 Pro Max was something particurlarly special, recalling the design brilliance of the iPhone 4 and combining it with processing power and a camera array that will keep you aheqad of the pack for years to come.
Google Pixel 5
The specifications of top-tier flagship phones have been plateauing for a while. With the Pixel 5, Google breaks from its usual strategy of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Samsung. Instead the focus is on a more power-efficient, longer-lasting, and more affordable 5G phone – one we can wholeheartedly recommend.
Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
The Hue Sync Box synchronises your Hue smart bulbs to your television, changing the colour and intensity of individual lights in the room based on what’s happening on the screen.
On paper that might sound like a gimmick, but in practice the effect is unexpectedly mesmerising. The box sits between up to four HDMI-enabled media devices – your Amazon Fire TV, set-top box, Chromecast – as the Hue Sync algorithm intelligently picks out which colours to fire where and when, turning the whole room into an extension of the screen.
Logitech StreamCam
it’s more important than ever to ensure your home office is set up to make remote working as seamless and as functional as being at your desk. The Logitech StreamCam is a key component of this puzzle, a webcam geared for live streaming and content creators, but with a sharp and smooth 1080p and 60fps output that broadcasts your face to virtual meetings with uncanny fidelity.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Since the original Surface Pro launched in 2013, Microsoft’s range of tablets have offered a value proposition most business users have found hard to resist: the form factor of an iPad, but with the functionality of a Windows PC.
The Surface Pro 7 achieves this near-seamlessly, offering a fully compatible desktop experience on a machine smaller than a sheet of A4.


cityam--2020-12-27--The top films of 2020, from Parasite to Mank

The absence of cinema releases for much of 2020 gives this year ’ s ‘ best of ’ film list a strange new context , as the industry shifts from reliance on the opening week box office and cinema fans focus on what they miss about the big screen .
Here ’ s our pick of this year ’ s best movies , comprised of titles released in UK cinemas or streaming during the calendar year .
The top of many 2019 lists , Boon Jong Ho ’ s Oscar winner takes our crown thanks to being released in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicated story filled with black comedy and cultural subtext , its success infuriated President Donald Trump , who apparently preferred Gone with The Wind .
Now is a good time to revisit the South Korean masterpiece , given that the awards buzz ( and Presidential complaints ) have faded away .
An examination of how far people will go to escape their situation , Parasite set the standard for this year and has lost none of its brilliance .
Read more : Catch The Dumb Waiter at Hampstead Theatre while you can Shannon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for with her debut feature , an Australian drama about two parents ( Essie David and Ben Mendelsohn ) who reluctantly take in the boyfriend of their critically ill daughter ( Eliza Scanlen ) .
While so many films put a veil over the subject of dying , Babyteeth embraces the messiness as it shows its characters ’ flaws , and how , for better or worse , illness never stops us being human .
A heart-shredding romance that didn ’ t get the love it deserved during awards season .
Whereas many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenes , Céline Sciamma ’ s film is more about the slow burn as a painter and her subject slowly fall for each other in 1700s France .
The final scene in particular had us in tears .
Perhaps the biggest story in the film world this year was the passing of Chadwick Boseman following an illness he kept private for much of the peak of his success .
It gives his presence in Spike Lee ’ s war drama even more impact .
The film follows four veterans returning to their former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their captain ( Boseman ) and some hidden gold .
Filled with incredible performances , it ’ s Delroy Lindo as the group ’ s traumatised loose cannon that leaves you breathless .
Adam Sandler just makes trashy comedies , right ?
Well , the Safdie Brothers ( Good Time ) unearthed a gem ( sorry ) of a performance from the star as a jeweller who goes through one hell of a bad day .
Fast paced and occasionally brutal , it ’ s a reminder that whenever Sandler wanders into drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only upcoming movie on this list , the adaptation of August Wilson ’ s play was Chadwick Boseman ’ s final film performance , and he left everything on the screen .
Following an infamous recording of music legend Ma Rainey ( the excellent Viola Davis ) , you can ’ t take your eyes off of Boseman as the bandmember with dreams of stardom .
Anyone in doubt of the actor ’ s legacy will have their questions answered by the end of his first monologue .
Riz Ahmed directs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a striking drama , playing an up-and-coming artist suddenly struck down by illness when he returns home to London .
A breathless account of the experiences of one part of the British-Asian community , the film practically bursts out of Ahmed ’ s heart .
Sam Mendes ’ World War 1 drama avoids the Saving Private Ryan method of beating the audience over the head with bloody battle scenes .
Indeed , most of the combat in this race against time ( presented as one shot thanks to the genius of Roger Deakins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are forced to concentrate on the mental effects of battle after the bullets have been fired .
David Fincher waited over twenty years to produce his late father ’ s drama about the man who wrote ( or co-wrote ) Citizen Kane , and while the result has been divisive , we think it was worth the wait .
Gary Oldman is sensational in a film that feels like a buffet for fans of film history , indulging in the Golden Age of Hollywood in all its ugliness .
Robert Eggers ’ follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful , with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson trying to out bonkers each other playing lighthouse keepers who become affected by their solitude .
The grubby black-and-white thriller delights in its sense of unease , and provides a calling card for anyone dismissing future Batman Pattinson as ‘ that guy from Twilight ’ .

The top films of 2020, from Parasite to Mank
Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, one of our films of the year
The absence of cinema releases for much of 2020 gives this year’s ‘best of’ film list a strange new context, as the industry shifts from reliance on the opening week box office and cinema fans focus on what they miss about the big screen. Here’s our pick of this year’s best movies, comprised of titles released in UK cinemas or streaming during the calendar year.
Parasite
The top of many 2019 lists, Boon Jong Ho’s Oscar winner takes our crown thanks to being released in the UK in February. A thoughtful, complicated story filled with black comedy and cultural subtext, its success infuriated President Donald Trump, who apparently preferred Gone with The Wind.
Now is a good time to revisit the South Korean masterpiece, given that the awards buzz (and Presidential complaints) have faded away. An examination of how far people will go to escape their situation, Parasite set the standard for this year and has lost none of its brilliance.
Babyteeth
Shannon Murphy became a name to look out for with her debut feature, an Australian drama about two parents (Essie David and Ben Mendelsohn) who reluctantly take in the boyfriend of their critically ill daughter (Eliza Scanlen). While so many films put a veil over the subject of dying, Babyteeth embraces the messiness as it shows its characters’ flaws, and how, for better or worse, illness never stops us being human.
Portrait of A Lady On Fire
A heart-shredding romance that didn’t get the love it deserved during awards season. Whereas many LGBTQ+ dramas make headlines with more salacious scenes, Céline Sciamma’s film is more about the slow burn as a painter and her subject slowly fall for each other in 1700s France. The final scene in particular had us in tears.
Da 5 Bloods
Perhaps the biggest story in the film world this year was the passing of Chadwick Boseman following an illness he kept private for much of the peak of his success. It gives his presence in Spike Lee’s war drama even more impact. The film follows four veterans returning to their former battle field to find the remains of their captain (Boseman) and some hidden gold. Filled with incredible performances, it’s Delroy Lindo as the group’s traumatised loose cannon that leaves you breathless.
Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler just makes trashy comedies, right? Well, the Safdie Brothers (Good Time) unearthed a gem (sorry) of a performance from the star as a jeweller who goes through one hell of a bad day. Fast paced and occasionally brutal, it’s a reminder that whenever Sandler wanders into drama, it’s worth watching.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The only upcoming movie on this list, the adaptation of August Wilson’s play was Chadwick Boseman’s final film performance, and he left everything on the screen. Following an infamous recording of music legend Ma Rainey (the excellent Viola Davis), you can’t take your eyes off of Boseman as the bandmember with dreams of stardom. Anyone in doubt of the actor’s legacy will have their questions answered by the end of his first monologue.
Mogul Mowgli
Riz Ahmed directs, stars, and raps his way through a striking drama, playing an up-and-coming artist suddenly struck down by illness when he returns home to London. A breathless account of the experiences of one part of the British-Asian community, the film practically bursts out of Ahmed’s heart.
1917
Sam Mendes’ World War 1 drama avoids the Saving Private Ryan method of beating the audience over the head with bloody battle scenes. Indeed, most of the combat in this race against time (presented as one shot thanks to the genius of Roger Deakins) have moved on, meaning we are forced to concentrate on the mental effects of battle after the bullets have been fired.
Mank
David Fincher waited over twenty years to produce his late father’s drama about the man who wrote (or co-wrote) Citizen Kane, and while the result has been divisive, we think it was worth the wait. Gary Oldman is sensational in a film that feels like a buffet for fans of film history, indulging in the Golden Age of Hollywood in all its ugliness.
The Lighthouse
Robert Eggers’ follow up to The Witch is just as powerful, with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson trying to out bonkers each other playing lighthouse keepers who become affected by their solitude. The grubby black-and-white thriller delights in its sense of unease, and provides a calling card for anyone dismissing future Batman Pattinson as ‘that guy from Twilight’.