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# Boscobel and Partners

An independent, strategic communications firm based in London

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://boscobelandpartners.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Hello world!](https://boscobelandpartners.com/hello-world/) - Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
- [Natural gas and the energy transition](https://boscobelandpartners.com/natural-gas-and-the-energy-transition/) - The latest Gas Mark Report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is another reminder of natural gas’s place at the centre of the energy transition to Net Zero. The challenge is to ensure decision-makers and civil society see it has such. This is an opportunity for responsible energy firms, investing in the transition and natural
- [Putting retail investors’ confidence to good use](https://boscobelandpartners.com/putting-retail-investors-confidence-good-use/) - Retail investors are much in focus and Boscobel collaborated with the pollsters, FindOutNow, to understand in detail who they are and what they want. We uncovered quite a few myths and truths, relevant to policy makers, the investment industry and corporates raising capital or engaging with investors. You can find a link to the full
- [A stunning diplomatic achievement](https://boscobelandpartners.com/stunning-diplomatic-achievement/) - The EU and UK agreement could ignite a dramatic economic recovery, as long as we rediscover timeless and useful principles As somebody who always refused to accept the false “No Deal v 2nd Referendum” narrative which somehow took hold in the last four years, I am personally delighted by the new Trade and Co-Operation Agreement
- [We all fall down, then get up again](https://boscobelandpartners.com/we-all-fall-down-then-get-up-again/) - Helpful lessons from the plague of 1665. Sometimes history can take us out of ourselves and put the present in perspective. It is hard not to be very worried about where Britain is headed as a country after arguably 20 years of catastrophic mistakes by a succession of administrations, including this one led by Boris
- [Common sense is back in fashion](https://boscobelandpartners.com/common-sense-back-fashion/) - Common sense. Suddenly, there is apparently a lot of it about. People should, “use their common sense,” suggests the Prime Minister, before publishing 50 pages of rules and advice on easing the lockdown which sometimes lack that quality, especially in relation to schools and travel. Perhaps Boris Johnson is simply reflecting back at the public
- [Maple syrup: a 10 point guide to Boris Johnson’s Canada-style EU free trade proposal](https://boscobelandpartners.com/maple-syrup-10-point-guide-boris-johnsons-canada-style-eu-free-trade-proposal/) - I popped along yesterday morning to the splendid Painted Hall in Greenwich (above) – itself a painterly encomium to institutional innovation and commerce – to hear the Prime Minister’s bombastic and entertaining enthusiasm for free trade and a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU. The Cabinet in attendance rose as one to give a
- [The Establishment is having an optimism reshuffle](https://boscobelandpartners.com/establishment-optimism-reshuffle/) - All change at the BBC, the FT and the Sunday Times For me, there have been two notable cultural trends of the last three years in the West. First, a howling negativity emanating from what one might describe as the bourgeois intelligentsia; and second, the traditional Establishment being stuck like rabbits in the headlights, panicking
- [Cobham shows UK M&A is open for business. Mostly.](https://boscobelandpartners.com/cobham-shows-uk-ma-open-business-mostly/) - How open or protectionist is the new Government going to be towards foreign takeovers of UK companies? We received a hint before Christmas when, at 10pm on 20th December, the Secretary of State for business, Andrea Leadsom, cleared the takeover of the aerospace group Cobham by US private equity house Advent, subject to certain conditions.
- [Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing’s bid for the London Stock Exchange Group showcases the UK’s still attractive takeover regime](https://boscobelandpartners.com/uks-still-attractive-takeover-regime/) - Ten years after Kraft launched a somewhat sharp-around-corners hostile bid for Cadbury, triggering a decade long tightening of the UK’s takeover regime, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing has made a £32 billion offer for the City’s cream egg, the London Stock Exchange Group. The cash and shares offer, at a 23% premium worth £84 a
- [Will Stephen Kinnock rescue Boris Johnson?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/will-stephen-kinnock-rescue-boris-johnson/) - I haven’t done a note for a while, partly because I was waiting until I had a meaningful signal to add to the cacophony of noise to which we are currently exposed. So here goes: I don’t agree with the current consensus we are being offered up in the media, and there are finally grounds
- [Could Jeremy Corbyn be Prime Minister by the year end?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/could-jeremy-corbyn-be-prime-minister-by-the-year-end/) - There is a reason the bookies now put Jeremy Corbyn as favourite to be next Prime Minister (7:2 from Ladbroke’s). It is certainly starting to feel we are now on tramlines heading towards a General Election. Don’t be fooled by the fact that under Conservative Party internal rules she has 12 month’s grace from the
- [Theresa May is a genius – discuss?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/theresa-may-is-a-genius-discuss/) - There, that has caught your eye. We are accustomed to thinking that Brexit has degenerated into a shambles and Mrs May’s strategy of “kicking the can down the road” has been a disastrous humiliation. That is certainly a valid point of view. But from her own narrow self-interested perspective she remains in Downing Street and
- [Are CDC pension schemes “a game changer”?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/cdc-pension-schemes-game-changer/) - Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced a “revolutionary” new workplace pensions scheme – Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) – that she claims will result in improved investment returns for workplace retirement savers. This is a potentially significant development, which could ultimately involve billions of pounds and affect thousands of workers
- [The EEA is a Brexit life boat for the City and the economy](https://boscobelandpartners.com/eea-brexit-life-boat-city-economy/) - The revelation [in the Telegraph on Saturday 9th March 2019] from George Eustice, the ex-fisheries minister, that Britain’s ambassador to Norway, was primed to hand in a letter giving notice that Britain was leaving the European Economic Area (EEA) single market treaty last March, but was mysteriously ordered by the Foreign Office not to do
- [Busting the latest Brexit myths](https://boscobelandpartners.com/busting-latest-brexit-myths/) - Theresa May has told the House of Commons that she will now bring forward three votes: March 12th vote on her new revised deal March 13th if that doesn’t pass a vote for No Deal March 14th if that doesn’t pass a vote to extend Article 50 The pound has risen to its highest levels
- [Time for a National Government? Lessons from 1931](https://boscobelandpartners.com/time-national-government-lessons-1931/) - It is an interesting question as to whether the formation of a National Government would help solve the current Brexit impasse. It has certainly worked in the past. In 1931 a National Government was formed to get us out of the Depression and overall it did a pretty good job. Britain recovered faster than any
- [Get ready for the new EU Shareholder Rights Directive](https://boscobelandpartners.com/get-ready-new-eu-shareholder-rights-directive/) - The EU Shareholder Rights Directive II (updating a 2007 original) comes into force in June 2019. This is potentially one of the biggest and most positive developments in corporate governance across Europe, including for London listed companies, for many years. It will occur whatever happens with Brexit because the UK has already agreed to it.
- [Christmas cheer from Thomas Chippendale - The 1721 Naval Store Act had unexpected benefits](https://boscobelandpartners.com/christmas-cheer-thomas-chippendale-1721-naval-store-act-unexpected-benefits/) - Earlier this year Boscobel moved into new offices at 60 St Martin’s Lane, in Covent Garden, the historic creative hub of London. Some research about a talented previous occupant shows how unexpectedly good things can come if we have the wit to encourage enterprise and civility. A plaque by the door reminds us that it
- [Hedge funds are going long ESG](https://boscobelandpartners.com/hedge-funds-going-long-esg/) - For those involved in a corporate action situation, a remuneration vote, or implementing the sustainability policy of a large company there is one audience which you normally have not had to consider: hedge funds. However, there are signs that is changing. In general, hedge funds are interested in generating alpha, or non-market correlated returns. The
- [Introducing Section 20 of the EU Withdrawal Act](https://boscobelandpartners.com/introducing-section-20-eu-withdrawal-act/) - Extending Article 50 is easier and more likely than some people let on. The Conservative party conference is going about as expected, with the Prime Minister reportedly booed at the Association chairman’s dinner; Boris Johnson giving a witty, tub-thumping speech which ended, incongruously, with a call for everyone to back Theresa May; and every Cabinet
- [Making the City work for women…and men](https://boscobelandpartners.com/making-city-work-womenand-men/) - The City and business are in a stew over women. Although it is in part a PR issue, it goes deeper than that and as a working mother with two young daughters my personal view is much of the debate is not grounded in reality. Instead it is dominated by a handful of high profile
- [Norway then Canada, a new Brexit strategy](https://boscobelandpartners.com/norway-canada-new-brexit-strategy/) - I have published a short book on the Amazon platform, called Norway then Canada, a new strategy to avoid a Brexit smash. Lord Owen, the former Labour foreign secretary, has kindly written a Forward. I wrote it over the summer, when the weather was dodgy in the Isle of Wight. I advocate that Britain should
- [Falling back on the EEA, or Thucydides](https://boscobelandpartners.com/falling-back-eea-thucydides/) - Two weeks ago, ahead of the Chequers summit, we warned that it would be a miracle if one or more Cabinet ministers did not resign. And so it has proved. The subsequent Parliamentary chaos, we did not predict. The conduct of all sides in the Brexit process now reminds me of a passage from
- [Common sense has been suspended in Westminster and volatility has returned to the betting market](https://boscobelandpartners.com/common-sense-suspended-westminster-volatility-returned-betting-market/) - We have not sent any Boscobel bulletins recently, as the firm has been flat out on the campaign to extend the runway at Heathrow, instead of building a 3rd Runway. We won the support of most business commentators and of numerous MPs because the concept is cheaper, quicker, quieter and simpler to construct. It has
- [It is official – Brexit squabbling is damaging the economy](https://boscobelandpartners.com/official-brexit-squabbling-damaging-economy/) - The British economy is slowing. There. I have said it. After repeatedly writing upbeat pieces for CapX to counter the doom and gloom mongers in the last two years, the facts are changing and so is my mind. I would go further and say that the weakness of the economy, much of it Brexit-related, is
- [How bad will the local elections be for the Conservatives?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/bad-will-local-elections-conservatives/) - An interesting poll of London voters has been published, slightly changing the working assumptions about the Local Elections next Thursday, May 3rd. The results could be the most significant for a local election since 1990, in which a rout in the capital and other major cities prepared the way for Margaret Thatcher being removed from
- [Stifel Europe appoints Boscobel & Partners](https://boscobelandpartners.com/stifel-europe-appoints-boscobel-partners/) - Boscobel & Partners is delighted to have been appointed as communications adviser by Stifel Europe, the full-service investment bank owned by Stifel Financial Corp. Stifel’s European operation encompasses debt and equity in both the public and private markets. Boscobel’s team, comprising George Trefgarne, CEO, Charlotte Walsh, Partner and Georgia Way, Consultant, will manage Stifel’s communications
- [A New Centre Party, local elections and markets](https://boscobelandpartners.com/new-centre-party-local-elections-markets/) - The local elections on May 3rd may prove to be unusually exciting, both from a political and market perspective. Jeremy Corbyn launched Labour’s campaign today and made clear his ambition is to seize flagship Conservative boroughs in London, including Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnett. I highlighted this risk in a piece for the
- [Pollen Street Capital appoints Boscobel & Partners](https://boscobelandpartners.com/pollen-street-capital-appoints-boscobel-partners/) - Boscobel & Partners is pleased to have been appointed as communications adviser by Pollen Street Capital, the private equity and credit fund manager focussed on investing in businesses in the financial services sector and in specialist credit assets. Boscobel’s team, led by Founder and CEO George Trefgarne, will manage Pollen Street Capital’s financial communications across
- [It is 1956 and all that again in Westminster](https://boscobelandpartners.com/it-is-1956-and-all-that-again-in-westminster/) - The Establishment may be having a wobble, but things could be much worse It hasn’t been this bad since the Suez Crisis. That is what some are saying in Westminster. What we still call the Establishment is divided and demoralised, awaiting “clarity” on Brexit. Britain is arguably involved in another international escapade which is being
- [BlackRock joins in i-Activism](https://boscobelandpartners.com/blackrock-joins-i-activism/) - A week after Jana Partners LLC and California State Teachers Retirement System wrote to Apple demanding it take action over the addiction of children to smart phones, BlackRock has made a powerful intervention in the governance debate. I dubbed this i-Activism LAST WEEK as I think this stance by investors is genuinely new. Many serious
- [The start of i-Activism](https://boscobelandpartners.com/start-i-activism/) - Jana Partners LLC and California State Teachers Retirement System have written to Apple, the world’s largest quoted company with a market capitalisation of some $900bn, to demand that it takes action to protect children from addiction to Smartphones. The two institutions claim to own $2bn of Apple stock. The full text of the letter is
- [Tweaking MiFID II post-Brexit](https://boscobelandpartners.com/tweaking-mifid-ii-post-brexit/) - Today signals the deadline for MiFID II compliance, new regulation that has been causing a sense of disquiet in some areas of the City, especially amongst advisers to and investors in smaller companies below the FTSE 250. A question worth asking is will Brexit allow some of the anticipated consequences of MiFID II to be
- [Imagine how other people feel](https://boscobelandpartners.com/imagine-people-feel/) - One of the great achievements of the Enlightenment was a sense of other. Instead of thinking only of ourselves, or our tribe or locality, European societies began to think philosophically about other people and their rights and duties. Although religion was a motivator, this respect for others became a doctrine in its own right. Here
- [Jeremy Corbyn has not peaked, yet](https://boscobelandpartners.com/jeremy-corbyn-not-peaked-yet/) - The combination of Theresa May’s surprise Phase One Brexit deal, and a subsequent poll by YouGov putting the Conservatives 1% ahead of Labour on 42%, suggest the tantalising prospect that Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity has peaked. A reasonably competent Budget, so the narrative goes, the fact that Brexit is stumbling on, and the commendable stamina of
- [800 years of interest rates. Did high interest rates set off the Wars of the Roses or even Game of Thrones?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/800-years-interest-rates-high-interest-rates-set-off-wars-roses-even-game-thrones/) - Here is a light historical distraction, for those who take a long-term view. We are currently in the midst of the third longest secular bull market in bonds ever (at 36 years), beaten only by one from 1441 to 1481 (40 years) and the record of 1605-1672 (67 years). I know this because the Bank
- [We need more than Caractacus Potts](https://boscobelandpartners.com/need-caractacus-potts/) - We cannot take the suspense. Philip Hammond labours like Caractacus Potts in the Treasury shed. Creak, bang, curse, he tinkers away into the night, preparing to unveil his latest Budget contraption on November 23rd. There is a sense of foreboding too. Will it fly beautifully, like Chitty, Chitty Bang? Or send him careering dangerously around
- [The public finances are in rude health](https://boscobelandpartners.com/public-finances-rude-health/) - I know these are unfashionable things to say, but not only is the British economy in much ruder health than many commentators admit, but we all owe a debt of thanks to George Osborne. The excellent public sector finance figures published today are a dramatic demonstration of these truths. What a pleasant surprise for the
- [It is not true we are getting poorer or that our incomes are falling](https://boscobelandpartners.com/not-true-getting-poorer-incomes-falling/) - Given the economics profession’s delight in gloom, sifting out the good news from that which is actually bad requires constant vigilance. This week is a classic example, over the average earnings data. The Office for National Statistics said that average earnings grew at an annual rate of 2.2% in August, below inflation. In other words,
- [GDPR: Is regulation tipping against social media?](https://boscobelandpartners.com/gdpr-regulation-tipping-social-media/) - Here is a short note on some important new regulations which may strengthen the hand of individuals against wrongdoing by the media, and on social media platforms. In May 2018, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation comes into force, which seeks to protect the personal data which companies hold on their customers and potential customers
- [Philp Hammond needs to show some Peelite radicalism](https://boscobelandpartners.com/philp-hammond-needs-show-peelite-radicalism/) - Those who are accustomed to seeing Britain as an essentially market-based society, home to the City of London and a redoubtable property-owning middle class, need to think again. The Labour Party just held its annual conference and, incredibly, it is winning the economic argument. On everything from housing, to tax increases, to student loans, to

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