Latest news with #CoventGarden
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Digital ID cards could be Starmer's poll tax
In March 1990, shops and cars in Covent Garden were set ablaze in the worst rioting the capital had seen for a century. Few things had angered the public like the new community charge. But something else happened too, which has been largely forgotten. Councils saw their revenue crash, as millions of names disappeared from the voter rolls. Now Sir Keir Starmer's favourite think tank has proposed what could turn out to be his very own poll tax. 'BritCard' is the name for a new digital ID app advanced by Labour Together, the think tank once run by Morgan McSweeney, who is now Starmer's chief of staff. The demand 'papers, please!' is not popular with voters, so to make it more palatable BritCard comes wrapped in the language of civic nationalism, serving as a cure for illegal immigration. The app and proposed wallet will be rebranded BritCard, to give us a nice warm, fuzzy feeling. We will love it so much that they believe it will morph into a full-blown digital ID system, acting as 'a familiar feature of daily life for everyone in the country'. But there are two serious problems here, and they are set on a collision course. First, BritCard will be mandatory, so we will be forced to use it or go off-grid entirely. Second – and this should alarm us all – Labour Together proposes that BritCard will use the Government's One Login digital identity service, which is mentioned 13 times in the proposal. This has become an expensive and sprawling Government IT project that has engaged hundreds of contractors, and cost taxpayers over £300m. What we know about it is very troubling – concerns have been raised about the security of the project at the deepest levels of the state. When we create a One Login account, it hoovers up our personal identification documents. This ID becomes the key that unlocks other government services, so an insecure system has serious consequences. It not only puts individuals at risk of identity theft and impersonation, but also makes defrauding the Government much easier. A fake ID can get you a long way. Phishing gangs accessed the records of 100,000 taxpayers, HMRC officials admitted last week, and used the IDs to steal an estimated £47m. An ID system like One Login is where criminal gangs would go first, and BritCard will forcibly enrol you into it. The Telegraph has reported the concerns of senior risk and cybersecurity staff working on One Login in some detail. The system was being accessed and modified by staff and contractors without the required level of security. Parts of the system were being developed in Romania, a fact that had eluded top management at the Government Digital Service (GDS). 'It's Horizon all over again,' one global security expert told this newspaper in April, referring to the notorious Post Office computer system. Of the 39 requirements in the National Cybersecurity Centre's cybersecurity checklist list CAF, One Login still only meets 21. But instead of taking the warnings seriously, One Login's senior management at GDS turned on the messengers who had brought them the bad news, dispersing the independent risk and cybersecurity team that first raised the issues. One Login's management subsequently began to mark their own homework. And earlier this year, a 'red team' exercise revealed how easily the system could be captured by hostile parties. The penetration test confirmed that intruders could breeze right in and take control of One Login without anyone noticing. Now recall GDS's own words – made in a business case that it refuses to release to the public – that an insecure One Login would empower 'hostile actors seeking to disrupt national infrastructure', with 'severe consequences for a large number of people'. As for Labour Together's proposition that a digital ID will help magically fix mass immigration, technology is not really the problem. Asylum seekers are already issued with a compulsory ID, but that doesn't stop them from melting into the underground economy, where the ID is never checked. And undocumented arrivals can gain a valid identity from the Home Office because it is promiscuously issuing credentials to undocumented migrants, taking at face value that they are who they say they are. Going digital won't fix either. Labour Together also thinks the public will rally around a digital ID app. 'Our polling revealed extremely strong public support for using a digital identity system for a range of use cases,' argues Labour Together. But only some. Polling by YouGov finds that around a fifth of UK consumers would not be comfortable with having an internationally recognised digital ID card or wallet like BritCard. Fewer than half, or 44pc, want a government ID that stores their biometric data, according to a survey for British payments processor History doesn't repeat itself exactly, but it can rhyme. In 1990, millions went off-grid to avoid a hated new tax. Of course, it is very difficult to disappear today. But millions of us will face a profound moral choice similar to one that voters faced in 1990, as both the poll tax and digital ID were made compulsory. Must I expose myself to criminals and identity theft, or do I refuse to go along with this government scheme? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Digital ID cards could be Starmer's poll tax
In March 1990, shops and cars in Covent Garden were set ablaze in the worst rioting the capital had seen for a century. Few things had angered the public like the new community charge. But something else happened too, which has been largely forgotten. Councils saw their revenue crash, as millions of names disappeared from the voter rolls. Now Sir Keir Starmer's favourite think tank has proposed what could turn out to be his very own poll tax. 'BritCard' is the name for a new digital ID app advanced by Labour Together, the think tank once run by Morgan McSweeney, who is now Starmer's chief of staff. The demand 'papers, please!' is not popular with voters, so to make it more palatable BritCard comes wrapped in the language of civic nationalism, serving as a cure for illegal immigration. The app and proposed wallet will be rebranded BritCard, to give us a nice warm, fuzzy feeling. We will love it so much that they believe it will morph into a full-blown digital ID system, acting as 'a familiar feature of daily life for everyone in the country'. But there are two serious problems here, and they are set on a collision course. First, BritCard will be mandatory, so we will be forced to use it or go off-grid entirely. Second – and this should alarm us all – Labour Together proposes that BritCard will use the Government's One Login digital identity service, which is mentioned 13 times in the proposal. This has become an expensive and sprawling Government IT project that has engaged hundreds of contractors, and cost taxpayers over £300m. What we know about it is very troubling – concerns have been raised about the security of the project at the deepest levels of the state. When we create a One Login account, it hoovers up our personal identification documents. This ID becomes the key that unlocks other government services, so an insecure system has serious consequences. It not only puts individuals at risk of identity theft and impersonation, but also makes defrauding the Government much easier. A fake ID can get you a long way. Phishing gangs accessed the records of 100,000 taxpayers, HMRC officials admitted last week, and used the IDs to steal an estimated £47m. An ID system like One Login is where criminal gangs would go first, and BritCard will forcibly enrol you into it. The Telegraph has reported the concerns of senior risk and cybersecurity staff working on One Login in some detail. The system was being accessed and modified by staff and contractors without the required level of security. Parts of the system were being developed in Romania, a fact that had eluded top management at the Government Digital Service (GDS). 'It's Horizon all over again,' one global security expert told this newspaper in April, referring to the notorious Post Office computer system. Of the 39 requirements in the National Cybersecurity Centre's cybersecurity checklist list CAF, One Login still only meets 21. But instead of taking the warnings seriously, One Login's senior management at GDS turned on the messengers who had brought them the bad news, dispersing the independent risk and cybersecurity team that first raised the issues. One Login's management subsequently began to mark their own homework. And earlier this year, a 'red team' exercise revealed how easily the system could be captured by hostile parties. The penetration test confirmed that intruders could breeze right in and take control of One Login without anyone noticing. Now recall GDS's own words – made in a business case that it refuses to release to the public – that an insecure One Login would empower 'hostile actors seeking to disrupt national infrastructure', with 'severe consequences for a large number of people'. As for Labour Together's proposition that a digital ID will help magically fix mass immigration, technology is not really the problem. Asylum seekers are already issued with a compulsory ID, but that doesn't stop them from melting into the underground economy, where the ID is never checked. And undocumented arrivals can gain a valid identity from the Home Office because it is promiscuously issuing credentials to undocumented migrants, taking at face value that they are who they say they are. Going digital won't fix either. Labour Together also thinks the public will rally around a digital ID app. 'Our polling revealed extremely strong public support for using a digital identity system for a range of use cases,' argues Labour Together. But only some. Polling by YouGov finds that around a fifth of UK consumers would not be comfortable with having an internationally recognised digital ID card or wallet like BritCard. Fewer than half, or 44pc, want a government ID that stores their biometric data, according to a survey for British payments processor History doesn't repeat itself exactly, but it can rhyme. In 1990, millions went off-grid to avoid a hated new tax. Of course, it is very difficult to disappear today. But millions of us will face a profound moral choice similar to one that voters faced in 1990, as both the poll tax and digital ID were made compulsory.
Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Times
10 must-have services for businesses on the grow
Bespoke site maintenance, exclusive networking events and AI security cameras – these companies are changing the entrepreneurial landscape for the better The UK's diverse business landscape is filled with talent – strategists, creatives, leaders and innovators. The success of the companies they build – from startups to major corporations – depends not only on how well they deliver their product or services, but how they master everyday operations. That includes finance, maintenance, product development and all manner of team issues. For those additional demands, specific expertise is essential. This checklist showcases ten top providers in a range of business service fields who can help you get back to what you do best. From first-class networking and workspace hire to financial support, insurance, and even tech and maintenance, the companies featured here all understand the need to offer support tailored to clients. Getting to know your business is their business. Based in Covent Garden, The Conduit is a purpose-driven community offering the perfect location to do business and be part of something bigger and more dynamic – while having a positive impact. Here, a diverse membership of entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, industry forerunners, civil-society leaders, policymakers and activists can access first-class workspaces and a club restaurant. They can also enjoy exclusive offers. Members can connect with other business, social and political leaders through events hosting world-renowned guest speakers, allowing them to share knowledge, networks and capital. Through these, the Conduit works to improve a whole host of impact areas: climate and green jobs, the food system, sustainable fashion and much more. The Conduit's building also has a floor dedicated to Workspace, offering fully serviced, private areas designed for productivity and comfort, with exceptional tech facilities for individuals and their teams. It's the perfect place to get work done, as well as entertain clients and investors. Visit to find out more about this very special private members club in the heart of London, and discover its premium coworking space This London-based insurance advisory and brokerage firm provides tailored solutions for high-net-worth individuals and complex commercial clients. Its experienced team works across a wide range of industries, including real estate, technology, construction and professional sports. They are also able to meet a manner of bespoke requirements, from over £2 billion in UK real estate to individual policies covering up to £15 million in body parts. Sioma was launched by Alexander Margolin in 2018. A chartered insurance broker and founder of Made with Hope charity, Margolin has also been recognised as Young Underwriter of the Year and Broker of the Year (under 35) by the British Insurance Brokers' Association. The company was awarded 5-Star Brokerage status in 2023 by Insurance Business UK. Under Margolin's leadership, Sioma has developed a client-centric approach, with a strategy that offers exceptional service. Its attention to detail helps its clients make significant savings on insurance premiums. Discover how Sioma can safeguard your business, wealth and career. Visit or download its brochure to learn more. Find Sioma on LinkedIn Adding artificial intelligence to your business process can greatly enhance your ability to service your clients, deliver better value and plan your operations more efficiently. With Axelera AI, companies can efficiently add real-time inference to their existing IT infrastructure to solve common problems, such as shrinkage within a retail environment. From overseeing better onsite safety conditions for construction or factory workers, improving quality management on a manufacturing line, adding detection and analysis capabilities to security cameras, or developing a live chatbot that can efficiently and effectively serve your customers, AI can make the difference. Such advances can be achieved in several ways, but these solutions can be expensive and prove unsustainable long-term, especially with increasing data privacy requirements across the globe. That's where Axelera AI comes in. By bringing inference directly to where the data is being created (be it a video stream, still images or language input), clients can better protect their data, receive up-to-date insights and can keep a low operating expenditure. Visit to find out more In recent years, employee ownership trusts (EOTs) have become an increasingly popular model for succession planning in business. In the right circumstances, selling shares to an EOT can be an effective strategy to transfer ownership to employees. This can help protect the culture and legacy of a business, and provide a positive working structure that rewards and engages with the company's staff. Shares in a trading business can also generally be sold to an EOT without capital gains tax, making this a tax efficient way for shareholders to exit. However, an EOT will not suit every situation. There are specific tax requirements, financing considerations and viability is often contingent upon suitable operating arrangements being in place. Leading the Menzies transaction taxes team, experts Pete Mills and Stephen Hemmings have extensive experience advising on succession planning and supporting businesses considering employee ownership. The team at Menzies work with each client to deliver tailored tax advice, strategic guidance and business valuations, optimised according to their unique objectives and circumstances. Visit and contact the team of experts for more information and to discuss your options The largest business loan-only broker in the UK, Century Business Finance was founded by industry experts Jon Maloney and Ben Larkins to help UK companies access the funding they need with speed, transparency and first-rate customer service. With funds available in as little as 24 hours, Century Business Finance's platforms are designed to make financing simple and stress-free, empowering businesses to thrive. Offering terms from six months to five years, it enables companies to borrow anything from £10,000 to £250,000. Century Business Finance focuses on fast, efficient loan solutions. Combining old-school financial knowledge with the responsiveness of modern technology, the company can run an eligibility check in 20 seconds and offer clients the option to apply online in just two minutes. Communication is a key part of the process. Its team can offer tailored financial solutions and provides clear and open communication at every step of the process. This exceptional service has earned Century Business Finance a five-star Google rating, reflecting the trust and satisfaction of hundreds of UK businesses. Check your eligibility now at For music makers, producers, manufacturers and other professionals working with software across audio and visual platforms, offers a fast audio stem separation service to get easy results without compromising on quality. Accessible for use online and via desktop, iOs and Android applications, the processing and splitting functionality on its servers enables creatives to integrate a music source separation algorithm into their own application or website. The stem splitter isolates voice and instruments in audio and video files, and the voice cleaner can remove background music, vocal plosives, mic rumble and other extraneous noises. API integration allows for convenient operation and seamless data transfer. A dedicated support manager and tech team can help each client get the most from their experience from start to finish. The service is reassuringly secure. Users are guaranteed exclusive access to all processed content, and no data is shared with third parties. Flexible scaling allows clients to use applications as needed, and a pay-as-you-go option is available to simplify the audit process. Visit to find out more Every aspect of running a business comes with its own demands and costs. Among these, energy expenditures are unavoidable and, for many, a major concern. For companies without the resources to have a dedicated department keeping an eye on running costs, Business Energy Claims Solutions offers comprehensive support to not only optimise energy use and expenses, but also recover excess charges that a business should never have received. It is estimated that as many as 80 per cent of UK companies have been mis-sold energy services, with hidden fees going unnoticed, on top of hidden broker commissions. Business Energy Claims Solutions works to expose any energy scam that a business might have been exposed to and help each client put in place better plans going forward. From being able to provide a detailed audit of bills to helping negotiate fairer terms for future contracts, its tailored services are efficient and effective, helping companies get a better deal. Visit to find out more and speak to one of the team today. Check out Business Energy Claims Solutions on social at Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn For over 20 years Vyta has helped businesses manage their tech assets while also protecting their data, maximising value return, managing corporate risk and meeting their sustainability goals. From its locations across the UK, Ireland and Germany, Vyta has grown to be a leader in IT Asset Disposition and Lifecycle Management (ITAD and ITALM), offering comprehensive, sustainable, compliant and secure solutions to countries globally. ITAD is key to the management of technology and its entire lifecycle. The circular economy – particularly reuse of IT assets and components – helps mitigate Scope 3 emissions. With extensive resources and the highest levels of certification, Vyta helps customers meet ESG targets and CO 2 reduction goals. Indeed, it was the only UK/EMEA ITAD company recognised as a representative vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for IT Asset Disposition 2024 and a worthy winner of the 2024 King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. Working with companies of all sizes and across multiple regions, Vyta is meeting the demands of modern business. Visit to find out more and discuss your requirements With over 29 years' experience enabling international expansion, Mauve Group is a global leader in Employer of Record (EoR) and workforce solutions. As businesses face growing complexity from evolving labour laws, Brexit, post-pandemic workforce shifts and rising geopolitical uncertainty, the EoR model has become a vital tool for companies seeking to grow without borders. Mauve's services enable organisations to hire, pay and manage talent in more than 150 countries, without the need to establish a local entity. This ensures full compliance with in-country employment laws, payroll standards and tax regulations. Whether supporting startups entering new markets or helping multinational enterprises streamline operations, Mauve provides bespoke, people-first solutions that can reduce risk, elevate employee experience and enable sustained growth. Its award-winning services include Employer of Record, global payroll, HR consultancy, entity setup and compliance advisory, all delivered through a strategic global infrastructure of wholly owned entities and a trusted network of local experts. Visit to find out more and download Mauve Group's free Ultimate Guide to Overseas Hiring From cleaning windows and removing waste to tending company grounds and delivering reactive and planned maintenance, Airwaves Facilities Management's teams provide tailored services that provide your staff and customers with a safe, secure and productive environment. Prioritising client experience, Airwaves FM offers a full suite of hard and soft facilities management support to commercial and residential clients. The company has built its exceptional reputation on the attention it gives each client – taking the time to appraise each business's properties and how its spaces are used. From this, its team can build a bespoke, total facilities management service, with capabilities across a range of industry sectors and for all kinds of business setting, including specialist cleaning operations. Adopting a 90 per cent self-performed delivery model, Airwaves FM ensures clients have total quality control and cost certainty, with agreed schedules of rates for all trades. Visit to find out more or to contact the team for a quotation If you've enjoyed reading this article and are interested in more inspiration in everything from food and drink, health and wellbeing to luxury and homes, why not follow Checklist on Facebook, X and Instagram @ChecklistSocial, or sign up to the newsletter? Checklist provides the best free online competitions too – discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Faust review – darkly gothic production turns Gounod's opera into boisterous Les Mis
Gounod's Faust is one of those operas – readers may wish to nominate their own candidates – that one does not wish to see too often. Yes, Faust has celebrated musical moments which are a pleasure to hear sung well. Yes, Gounod's score eventually becomes more interestingly chromatic as the denouement nears. And yes, David McVicar's darkly gothic production, now with 21 years' service on the clock, successfully removes it from Goethe's intellectual shadow, turning Faust into a theatrically boisterous Parisian show reminiscent at times of Les Mis or Moulin Rouge. McVicar's production is revived, amid Charles Edwards's towering Second Empire sets, by Peter Relton. You immediately grasp why this 1860s French setting is still one of Covent Garden's most bankable productions. Yet, for all its mix of panache and musical charms, well marshaled under Maurizio Benini's experienced direction in the pit, Faust struggles to hold the attention, not least because of the final act ballet that Gounod added a decade after the 1859 premiere. In the end, Faust still depends on singers who can make Gounod's beguiling music convincing. Over the years, Covent Garden has relied on a steady stream of notables in the roles on which the work's reputation rests – the restless Faust, the devil Méphistophélès to whom he sells his soul, and the innocent Marguerite whom Faust seduces. There have been exceptional singers of the roles of Valentin and Siébel too. This production, for instance, launched in 2004 with Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel and Angela Gheorghiu. The current cast cannot match that vocal star power. That's particularly obvious in the case of Stefan Pop in the title role, whose singing rarely ascends above the level of reliably solid. Making Faust either believable or sympathetic is tough, and while Pop undoubtedly has the stamina for a demanding role, the voice offers little in the way of elegant tenorial phrasing and grace, while his diction is muddy and his acting minimal. As so often, it is Méphistophélès who commands the attention whenever he is involved, and Adam Palka, deputising impressively for the originally announced Erwin Schrott, has both voice and stage presence to do so most of the time. Boris Pinkhasovich's big baritone gives a reliable rendering of Valentin's famous aria in act two, though nuanced it is not. Hongni Wu is an attractively bright voiced Siébel. But it is left to Carolina López Moreno's Marguerite, the opera's most interesting role, to bring real vocal distinction to the evening. After a suitably demure start, López Moreno brought contrasts of mood and tone to Marguerite's ballad, followed by a pinpoint bright Jewel Song before impressively dominating the tragic (though simultaneously banal) final trio. At the Royal Opera House, London, until 10 June.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
UK's first and only Guinness attraction is finally opening this year
After years of eager anticipation, Guinness fans in the UK can finally toast to the opening of a new attraction in London later this year. A brand-new Guinness microbrewery is set to open its doors in Covent Garden before Christmas. The £73 million venue spans 50,000 sq ft across five buildings, and will feature various food and drink outlets, a glass rooftop with panoramic views, events spaces and a merchandise shop. The brewery will serve up 14 different limited-edition brews, including no and low alcohol options, offering a unique tasting experience for fans of the black stuff. While actual Guinness won't be brewed on-site, the iconic Irish stout will be readily available for drinking. Visitors can also participate in tours to learn about the history of Guinness and its brewing process. Beyond the brewery, the venue will feature a selection of food and drink outlets, including a food truck, a brasserie and grill, and a seafood restaurant on the rooftop. The restaurant offers a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of London, as well as a dining experience that complements the brewery offerings. Originally announced back in 2022, the long-awaited attraction vows to bring a taste of Dublin to the heart of London, much to the delight of fans and tourists alike. The brewery is located in Old Brewer's Yard, a historic site where beer was first produced over 300 years ago. Guinness hopes that the free-to-enter attraction, which will open from 9.30am to 11.30am each day, will draw half a million visitors in its first year. The venue will be the fourth site for the Guinness brand, which operates other locations in Dublin, Baltimore and Chicago. According to The Standard, the venue will also be a hub for Diageo's Learning for Life Bartending and Hospitality program. The project is expected to create up to 150 jobs and train up to 100 bartenders each year. Demand for the stout has surged recent years, so much so that pubs in the UK issued customers with ration cards for Guinness due to a nationwide shortage back in December. Drinkers visiting The Old Ivy House in Clerkenwell, central London, were required to purchase two other drinks before they are entitled to a pint of the black stuff. The special cards were signed and stamped by staff to prove punters were entitled to purchase 'one ration of Guinness.' Co-owner Del Currie at the time said the hostelry usually got through around eight barrels per week but received just three kegs this week. He told The Morning Advertiser: 'Instead of freaking out and saying, "There's going to be no Guinness for Christmas", we thought we'd have a bit of fun with it. We started doing it last night and it ended up being quite fun - people really enjoyed it.' Mr Currie said the watering hole would continue with the ration cards 'while stocks last'.
