Fintech regulation: a look back at 2022 and a look ahead to 2023

Back in February, I wrote a piece for Finextra titled, ‘For financial services, 2022 is a year of real regulatory possibilities. Through a series of events – impossible to have imagined at the time – Rishi Sunak, the then Chancellor is now the Prime Minister and the progress on fintech regulation I had hoped for …

All-Party-Parliamentary-Group on AI

End of Year Round-Up 2022 has been a busy year for the APPG AI – as the buzz around the new Chatbot ChatGPT – has demonstrated, this technology is developing at pace and the use cases are increasingly visible and impressive. As all the speakers at an event in Parliament this week (6th December 2022) stressed – …

ESG: existential, seismic and global

I wrote last year about why it’s time to think of ESG, not as environmental, social and governance but as existential, seismic and global. Yesterday (29th November 2022) I spoke at a conference – Sustainable Finance Live – and again called on people to think of ESG as existential, seismic and global. Not only is the …

Electronic Trade Documents Bill

One of the most important bills you’ve never heard of Today (12th October 2022), in the House of Lords, the Government introduced an incredibly important piece of legislation. The Electronic Trade Documents Bill will allow the digitization of trade documents. A small sounding Bill, it is nonetheless one that will have a colossal impact. This …

10 Years since London 2012 Paralympic Games

10 years ago, we were in the midst of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.  No one had known how it would go. The names that were to become household names, the Great British success’ celebrated, most of all, the attitude-altering, opportunity-creating phenomena that it became. Opening Ceremony There were some serious hints in the opening …

Delivering a UK Science and Technology Strategy – Report Published

Today (4th August 2022) our report on delivering a UK science and technology strategy, “Science and technology superpower”: more than a slogan?, is published by the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on which I am honoured to serve. There is a tremendous economic opportunity for the UK if we invest, streamline, and focus on delivering …

The Paralympic Heritage Trust

Paralympic Legacy It is ten years since the London 2012 Paralympic Games and to mark this important anniversary I met with CEO of the Paralympic Heritage Trust, Vicky Hope-Walker, at the Olympic Park. The National Paralympic Heritage Trust was established in July 2015 to protect and share British Paralympic Heritage. The Trust runs a Heritage …

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill – Environmental Objectives

The UK Infrastructure Bank Bill is continuing to make it’s way through Parliament. The aim of the bill is to place the UK Infrastructure Bank on a statutory footing and the purpose of the bank is to invest in infrastructure that will tackle climate change and support regional and local economic growth. It’s an excellent proposition and …

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill – Levelling Up and Inclusion Amendments

The UK Infrastructure Bank Bill is making it’s way through Parliament. The aim of the bill is to place the UK Infrastructure Bank (currently operating on an interim basis) on a statutory footing. The purpose of the bank is to invest in infrastructure that will tackle climate change and support regional and local economic growth. It’s an …