In the latest in its series of podcasts supported by the investment bank Stifel and its European President Eithne O’Leary, Jericho Chambers Partner, Matthew Gwyther speaks to Eithne plus four observers of the UK scene to hear their feelings about the last year and what now lies ahead for Britain as it faces an uncertain future.  The interviewees were Antony Jenkins, Vicky Pryce, Claer Barrett and Professor John Van Reenan of the London School of Economics.

Antony Jenkins has had a life long career in financial services. He spent many years at Barclays and was Group CEO from 2012 to 2015.  He now runs, and largely owns, the fintech 10x . He was probably the most sanguine of our interviewees. “Business people hate uncertainty most of all,” he says and the current situation is full of that. “But we’ll find a way to make it work because that’s what business does.” Business tends to be pragmatic rather than ideological which is why – by any poll – the majority of UK business has always thought Brexit a bad idea.

Jericho Conversations is one of a number of initiatives that spontaneously emerged during the first COVID lockdown – part of a determination to use moments of crisis to pivot towards a better, fairer, more equitable and sustainable future for all. By popular demand, we have reignited the series to help find surprising and refreshing solutions and insights into a world in constant flux. Each conversation – led by an expert speaker – is designed to keep Jericho communities engaged and thinking about “what comes next?” for business and society.