Will the UK's Iron Chancellor Melt Under the Heat?
When does a tactical retreat become a rout? Keir Starmer performed his biggest U-turn in government yet on Thursday by promising to reinstate some pensioners' winter fuel allowance (WFA), which he cut last July. The prime minister caved in after muttering from disaffected Labour backbench MPs became a roar - and the measure had become totemic of much that the voters dislike about a government, now languishing in the opinion polls behind the populist Reform UK party.
The prime minister can just soldier on. No one, not even Starmer, who prides himself on his 'pragmatism,' knows what his guiding light is on the economy. As a former lawyer with a strong record on human rights, his hand can be detected in liberal prison reforms and deference to international courts; otherwise he seems most at home with his international affairs brief. A number of Downing Street economic advisers have quit without explanation over the last fortnight. They seem to have been none the wiser about their boss's economic philosophy too - or were underwhelmed by it.
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New York Times
43 minutes ago
- New York Times
Can Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap signings boost Chelsea, Manchester United's top four odds?
For more stories like this, click here to follow The Athletic's sports betting section and have them added to your feed. Legendary American basketball coach John Wooden once said, 'Never mistake activity for achievement.' Wooden spent his time coaching players who dribbled with their hands instead of their feet in the 1970s. That means it's unlikely his famous quote was directed at the transfer strategies of Manchester United and Chelsea. Advertisement In acquiring Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, each club appears to be doing something. Whether early transfer window activity indicates edging closer to securing silverware or a place in the top four next year is another story. At the very least, it represents hope around the Blues' 2/1 and their Manchester counterparts' 5/1 top four odds. Delap and Cunha also share another similarity; their numbers don't tell the whole story of their value to each club. Let's dive deeper into the metrics. Let's not beat around the bush: Ipswich Town were objectively bad this past season. The Tractor Boys' minus-1.01 expected goal (xG) differential per 90 minutes ranked 17th in the league — nearly triple the difference of Wolves in 16th. When attackers like Delap play substantial minutes for a side this dreadful, it raises questions whether their statistics accurately reflect their abilities. At 22 years old, Delap is just about to enter his prime. Considering that context, however, his underlying numbers are, well, not great: Chelsea's incumbent striker, Nicolas Jackson, has his weaknesses, particularly around his finishing, but there's no denying his surface numbers supercede Delap. Jackson's 0.50 non-penalty xG per 90 mark is nearly double Delap's 0.27. While some forwards could make up for that gap with their contributions to build-up play or chance-creation in the final third, the former Tractor Boy doesn't do either of those things. 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Delap's numbers call into question his actual level of impact, but it's quite clear the kind of player Cunha is. The 26-year-old is a good, not great, winger whose market value rose thanks to a season buoyed by a fiery finishing streak. The Brazilian scored 15 goals off just 8.6 xG — a conversion rate that even Lionel Messi would be envious of. If the predictive strength of xG has taught us anything, it's that Cunha is headed toward a serious regression next season. Thankfully for United, he does bring a decent dose of playmaking. Cunha ranks in the 80th percentile of all attacking midfielders in expected assists and led Wolves in shot-creating actions last season. Yet even with that all-around production, there's no denying that his signing is simply a signing for the sake of change given the presence of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. Rashford almost exactly matches Cunha's production, while the 20-year-old Garnacho offers far more promise. Despite being six years his junior, the young Argentine matched Cunha's non-penalty xG of 0.30 this past season. The problem for United is that Garnacho and Rashford have had a series of run-ins with recent managers. Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim sought to find alternatives, and now the latter seems poised to push both players out of the club. At 8/15 odds to head to Barcelona, Rashford seems destined to leave Old Trafford. Garnacho's most likely destination is also outside of Manchester as Napoli (6/4) are currently the club favoured to secure his services. Advertisement As great as data is, it can't really measure the impact of someone like Cunha slotting into a starting XI match after match without high-profile spats with his manager. Professionalism and locker room cohesion may not matter as much as actually putting the ball in the back of the net, but those intangibles do matter. That said, United finished 12th in non-penalty xG differential last season. 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Forbes
43 minutes ago
- Forbes
Carbon Neutral Is Back And It Might Be Smarter Than Net Zero
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As climate science advanced, net zero emerged as the more rigorous standard, requiring deep emissions cuts across entire value chains and limiting the role of offsets. Over the past decade, it has largely replaced carbon neutrality as the mark of serious climate leadership. But for many companies, net zero has become too complex, expensive, or misaligned with real-world operations—especially in a politically polarized environment where climate action can trigger backlash. Some are walking away from their goals; others are looking for a more practical, verifiable approach that allows progress without overpromising. That's prompting a renewed interest in carbon neutrality—this time with clearer standards and stronger intent. A March 2025 study found that over 40% of companies abandoned or stopped reporting on their climate goals. Even missed targets drove progress, but without enforcement, momentum is faltering. Now, companies are asking: is there a better way forward? 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Hocknell argues that carbon neutrality offers more adaptability. The updated ISO standard mandates rigorous measurement, science-based reduction plans, and independent verification—but doesn't require fixed annual cuts. It also allows for the use of high-quality offsets, giving businesses space to act in volatile market conditions. For Hocknell, this flexibility isn't a flaw; it's a feature. 'We need a North Star, not a map,' he says. 'We need to know where we're going, but the route is never going to be straight. Carbon neutral gives companies the structure to act without boxing them into methodological rigidity that doesn't reflect how the real world works.' Data quality is another sticking point. Emissions models often rely on generic factors with wide uncertainty margins—sometimes 25–30%. One pharmaceutical company saw its reported footprint drop 50% after upgrading its data, without any actual operational change. 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While top-tier offsets may cost more, they're still cheaper than the social cost of carbon—and deliver real impact. 'The best offsets cost more,' says Hocknell. 'But they deliver. And you can stand behind them.' It helps that the offset market itself has matured. After scandals involving questionable forest-based credits, the sector now emphasizes verifiable removals, community co-benefits, and third-party standards. Integrity is improving, and with it, confidence. This shift is already playing out. Apple recently defended its 'carbon neutral' label for the Series 9 Watch in court, supported by the Environmental Defense Fund. EDF highlighted the 80% emissions reduction achieved, with the remaining footprint offset using high-quality, nature-based credits. It wasn't just a defense of Apple, but rather it was a signal to the market that carbon neutrality, when backed by real reductions and verification, can be considered credible climate action. As Hocknell puts it, 'Net zero is conceptually elegant. But the business world doesn't run on elegant concepts. It runs on risk, margins, and uncertainty.' For companies trying to act amid imperfect data and dynamic pressures, carbon neutrality offers a structure to keep moving. That case is part of a broader trend. The EU's upcoming Green Claims Directive will ban unsubstantiated climate labels unless backed by rigorous evidence. Courts are also increasingly scrutinizing environmental claims—down to the assumptions behind individual offsets. As EDF warned in the Apple case, that risks silencing credible efforts along with the clear rules, there's a risk of a chilling effect: companies may stop communicating altogether, stalling both transparency and progress. Yet research suggests there's a better path. According to a report from the Anthesis Group, companies that combine carbon credits with broader net zero strategies are significantly more likely to include Scope 3 emissions and have validated science-based targets. Net zero may remain the ultimate destination but carbon neutrality, used as a milestone—not a mask—can help maintain momentum while laying the groundwork for deeper change. For businesses navigating rising costs, fragmented regulations, and mounting public scrutiny, one truth is becoming clear: what you call your climate strategy may be important, but how you build it matters far more. The resurgence of carbon neutrality isn't a retreat from net zero—it's a pragmatic step toward it. Used well, it enables companies to act now, communicate credibly, and adjust as data, regulation, and technology evolve. It's even arguable that climate targets should be seen as aspirations not absolutes, as best practice today may not be fit for purpose tomorrow. In a world of rising scrutiny, fragmented policy, and accelerating climate impacts, flexible, science-aligned frameworks like carbon neutrality may be not only acceptable but essential. What companies call their strategy matters—but how they build it matters far more.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fullcast Acquires Commissionly to Deliver Complete Sales Performance Management Platform
Commissionly enhances Fullcast's RevOps platform with integrated sales commission management capabilities. SALT LAKE CITY, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fullcast, the leading RevOps platform for end-to-end Go-to-Market (GTM) planning and execution, today announced its acquisition of Commissionly, a UK-based pioneer in cloud-based sales commission management. This acquisition marks a major step forward in Fullcast's mission to unify every aspect of GTM operations, transforming it from a leading RevOps solution into a comprehensive sales performance management platform. By integrating Commissionly's intuitive, automated commission tracking and compensation planning tools into Fullcast's RevOps platform, customers can now align sales performance and incentive structures directly with territory planning, quota setting and GTM execution. This eliminates the operational silos that often lead to misaligned incentives, payment delays and shadow accounting. "Adding Commissionly's powerful commission engine makes Fullcast the only platform where GTM planning and sales performance execution truly live in one place," said Fullcast CEO Ryan Westwood. "This acquisition enables our customers to motivate, reward and drive performance with complete visibility and trust." Commissionly has helped sales teams automate complex commission structures across industries. Its simple and intelligent cloud-based solutions are part of Fullcast's commitment to flexibility and scalability across growing Go-to-Market teams. "Joining Fullcast is a natural evolution of our mission to help sales teams succeed through transparency and automation," said Commissionly CEO Martin Baker. "Together, we can offer companies a seamless experience, from designing territories and setting quotas to managing commissions and rewarding top performers." As part of the acquisition, Commissionly's product and team will be integrated into the Fullcast suite of solutions, with continued investment in both platforms. Existing Commissionly customers will continue to receive full support and benefit from enhanced capabilities through the combined solution. "We're thrilled to bring Commissionly into Fullcast. This will make it easier for teams to connect planning with performance and actually get paid for the work they do, faster and more accurately," said Bala Balabaskaran, Cofounder and CTO of Fullcast. For more information or to request an interview, please contact Amy Cook at amy@ About Fullcast Fullcast is an AI-powered, end-to-end Sales Performance Management platform that empowers Go-to-Market teams to plan, execute and optimize revenue operations — from Plan to Pay. Designed by RevOps leaders for RevOps leaders, Fullcast unifies strategic planning and tactical execution across sales, operations, finance and customer success. The platform comprises three integrated modules: Fullcast Plan, which facilitates territory management, quota setting and capacity planning; Fullcast Perform, which automates lead routing and policy enforcement; and Fullcast Pay, which streamlines commissions management. With real-time CRM integration and AI-driven automation, Fullcast enables dynamic adjustments to GTM strategies, enhancing sales productivity and revenue growth. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fullcast Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
