Latest articles by Simon Wilson
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Britain's rail industry is being revamped. Here is all you need to know about it
Briefings After more than a year of waiting, the UK's government's white paper on the future of the rail industry is finally out. Simon Wilson explains everything you need to know about it.
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Why Joe Biden’s Big Pharma patent grab is a terrible idea
Briefings The US president has proposed waiving patents on Covid-19 vaccines in a bid to boost global supply. But it won’t work on its own terms and holds dangers for the future.
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Is Britain’s “green revolution” realistically achievable?
Briefings Boris Johnson is hoping to claim global leadership on the climate issue by committing Britain to an accelerated programme of emissions cuts. Is this achievable – and affordable?
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The SNP’s record in Scotland: how does it stack up?
Briefings The SNP has been in power in Scotland since 2007, and the country is going to the polls again. So how has it performed?
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Greensill, Cameron and the return of Tory sleaze
Briefings The collapse of Greensill Capital threw a spotlight on political lobbying when it emerged that former PM David Cameron had been fighting its corner. Just how big a problem is it?
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What China’s new red dawn means for Hong Kong
Briefings China has once again moved to tighten its control over the former British territory and global financial centre. What will remain of the old Hong Kong’s attractions?
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Does nuclear power have a future?
Briefings Fears about safety have long hobbled the industry, particularly in the wake of Fukushima ten years ago. But the fears are overplayed and net-zero carbon goals look unachievable without it, says Simon Wilson.
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How the vaccine wars will harm us all
Briefings Grabbing and hoarding vaccine supplies, or even manufacturing one’s own, might seem to make sense for a state in an emergency. But the damage done to trust and prosperity will be huge.
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Britain's £37bn test and trace system: did it do any good?
Briefings Britain built a system for testing for Covid-19 and tracking down contacts from a standing start – at a cost projected at £37bn. Why so expensive? And did it work? Simon Wilson reports.
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What's behind the collapse of Greensill Capital, and why does it matter?
Briefings A financial company involved in opaque products that repackaged loans has gone into administration. Is there a bigger systemic risk here?
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Can China hold the world to ransom over access to rare-earth metals?
Briefings China’s stranglehold on rare-earth minerals – resources essential for our modern high-tech world – has some analysts worried. Should we be too?
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How Big Tech was humbled Down Under
Briefings An Australian law forcing tech companies to share their profits with news organisations is a crucial test of the evolving power relations between governments, the media and big tech, says Simon Wilson
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Yet another big shake-up for the NHS – will this one do any good?
Briefings The government plans to “take back control” of the health service, ending the market-based reforms and reintroducing central command and control. Is this a good idea?
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Can the government's proposals fix the residential cladding crisis?
Briefings In the wake of the Grenfell fire disaster, many homeowners have been left stuck with huge bills to make their properties safe. The government is stepping in with a helping hand.
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How long will it be before the world is vaccinated?
Briefings The vaccine rollout is going well in the UK, and in some other countries. But ultimately, this is a global problem, and the situation worldwide is not so rosy.
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The looming global battle over semiconductor supply
Briefings A shortage of semiconductors – essential components in electronic devices – has spooked businesses and governments. It could even spark future geopolitical conflicts. Simon Wilson reports.
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The Arab Spring ten years on: a revolution that failed to blossom
Briefings Ten years ago, the Arab world was rocked by mass protests and popular uprisings that ousted long-reviled dictators. For the most part, the end result and legacy was, sadly, disaster. Simon Wilson reports
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Leasehold reforms promise the end of a nightmare for many homeowners
Briefings Horror stories about unscrupulous landlords profiting from a legal relic of the feudal era are about to get a happy ending, says Simon Wilson.
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Brexit deal: what's changed between Britain and the the EU
Briefings After years of wrangling and political scraps, Britain is now outside the EU and has secured a free-trade agreement with the bloc. So what’s changed?
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How Asia's RCEP deal has brought the return of free trade
Briefings While Britain and the EU struggle to come to terms, 15 Asia-Pacific countries quietly signed the biggest free-trade deal in history. That’s a welcome development, says Simon Wilson
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Britain mulls a wealth tax again – can it ever work?
Briefings A Covid-19-ravaged government needs to raise more revenue and some propose that a wealth tax could fit the bill. It’s unlikely to happen, but one way or another the rich face a squeeze, says Simon Wilson
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Should Britain really be cutting foreign aid now?
Briefings Faced with a black hole in the public finances, chancellor Rishi Sunak has targeted the foreign aid budget. Is he right to do so? And will it save us much money?
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US states declare a ceasefire in the war on drugs
Briefings With US states decriminalising the use even of hard drugs, and legalising the recreational use of cannabis, this could be the beginning of the end for drug prohibition. Is that a good thing?
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Is the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine the big Covid-19 breakthrough?
Briefings A vaccine that appears so far to be safe and effective is making its way through the final trials before commercialisation. There are reasons to be cheerfully optimistic, says Simon Wilson.
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