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Latest political and policy news
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New regulations threaten Uber
Transport for London published a consultation this week for new regulations to apply to private hire vehicle licensing, that was a thinly veiled swipe at the growing dominance of Uber.
The proposals include booking confirmations being sent at least 5 minutes before the start of a journey (creating a de facto 5 minute minimum wait time) and drivers only being allowed to use one platform.
Uber is mobilising its user base to lobby against these proposals, and currently has over 125,000 people signed up to its petition.
Labour's candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, welcomed the proposals. Tory candidate, Zac Goldsmith has also suggested (in the past) that he backs the cabbies.
While Uber can fight its own battles, we're concerned about the attitude to innovative business models this represents. Needlessly regulating to worsen the consumer experience is a big step backwards.
Labour promise 'Entrepreneurial State'
Labour's new Shadow Chancellor promised that a Labour government would create an 'Entrepreneurial State' (citing the work of economist Mariana Mazzucato), promising greater state intervention in skills and finance, including a new National Investment Bank.
New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also pledged in his speech that Labour would invest in broadband, and provide more support for the self-employed (including on maternity/paternity pay and sick leave).
Corbyn also met with startups during Labour Party Conference.
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FinTech ambition
Treasury Minister, Harriet Baldwin, gave a speech setting out the government's agenda on FinTech, including a review of the advice market, aiming to create better regulations for innovative firms.
EU launch Capital Markets Union
The European Commission this week launched its action plan on the Capital Markets Union, designed to improve access to finance across the bloc. The plan includes a consultation on venture capital.
VAT Victory (ish)
The UK government is claiming a victory in Europe after the European Commission launched a consultation to reform the VAT rules that caused such controversy (particularly among UK micro-businesses) earlier in the year.
UK-US digital government
Following Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock's recent trip to the US, a new partnership between the US and UK governments on digital was announced. The GDS and USDS are to collaborate (on unspecified projects).
New consumer rights rules
New consumer rights rules, including for digital content, took effect this week as the Consumer Rights Act begins to be implemented. Consumers now have clearer (and greater) rights to repair or replacement of faulty digital content (including games, ebooks, and video).
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In other news:
Shameless plug: Help The Memo beat VICE to win best News site in the Lovies awards - link
The French attitude to disruptive innovation - link
The EU dealing with the issues that matter... asteroid impact - link
Netflix and chill - link
Tinder Foundation are looking for a new external director - link
London has more developers than any EU city (or SF bay area) - link
Imogen Heap releases her new album on blockchain - link
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#SaveSkilledMigration update
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The government is reviewing the Tier 2 visa system for skilled workers from outside the EU, with the ambition of reducing numbers. This is set against a backdrop of new figures showing immigration is the top concern of the public, so it's vital we make a strong case for why international talent is vital to the digital economy.
A huge thank you to the over 130 of you kindly gave us feedback in our survey. We have condensed your views and written a submission to the government's Migration Advisory Committee to make sure the startup voice is heard. We also submitted this to Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee who are also looking at these issues.
As a next step, we're going to organise an open letter from digital entrepreneurs and investors, so watch this space! In the meantime do take a look at what we wrote - any comments much appreciated.
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Coadec at Party Conferences
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We had a great time in Brighton this week for Labour Party Conference, hosting a panel on the sharing economy and a lunch on startups and the EU.
Now time for the Tories - if you are around in Manchester (4-7th Oct) do get in touch and say hello.
Here's our guide to the best tech policy events at Conservative Party Conference.
We have teamed up with Sharing Economy UK to host an event at both conferences on the future of the sharing economy. Do come along:
Where next for the sharing economy
Venue: TechCentral Marquee, Manchester Central plaza (within the secure zone)
Date: Tuesday 6th October
Time: 2.30-3.30pm
Speakers: Ed Vaizey (Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy); Debbie Wosskow (Founder, Love Home Swap); Alex Depledge (Co-founder, Hassle.com); Guy Levin (Executive Director, Coadec)
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Interesting things we read this week
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Uber v TfL
The Telegraph's Economics Correspondent reviews the economic evidence around the impact of services like Uber, concluding that there is broad agreement of the benefits - link
TalkTalk CEO Dido Harding writes in defence of Uber (and other innovative businesses), arguing that regulators should focus on consumers, not on protecting the status quo - link
CapX have a compelling demolition of TfL's case, focussing on consumer safety - link
Entrepreneurs at the seaside
The Centre for Entrepreneurs has a new report out, looking at how Britain's (often neglected) seaside towns can create entrepreneurial clusters - link |
Hard things
Paul Smith, founder of the Ignite accelerator has written a moving piece about the depression that startup founders often face, yet struggle to talk about - link
We've got unicorns wrong
Great essay from Tim O'Reilly arguing that the real unicorns are those technologies or companies that just make us go 'WTF?!' and change the way the world works - link
An app for steady income
The New York Times looks at 'Even' a new startup that aims to smooth the income flow of freelance workers - link
It's reminiscent of this brilliant Nick Grossman (Union Square Ventures) piece looking at the app-layer of services to support workers developing on top of the sharing (and on demand) economy - link
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