As 2025 draws to a close, City AM's weekly debate feature has distilled the year's most contentious public conversations into seven head-to-head clashes. From profound ethical questions to the divisive presence of dockless bikes on London's streets, these discussions captured the spirit of the times, pitting experts and campaigners against each other before a final verdict was delivered.
The Big Questions: Work, Death, and Time
One of the year's most persistent debates questioned the very fabric of British society: Has Britain lost its work ethic? Echoing sentiments once mocked from Kim Kardashian, figures like Brewdog CEO James Watt and shadow minister Chris Philp publicly criticised the UK's work culture. The data presented a stark picture, with Gallup's Jeremie Brecheisen noting that only 10 per cent of UK employees are engaged at work, compared to a global average of 23 per cent.
Perhaps the most significant parliamentary matter of the year was the assisted dying bill, on which MPs were granted a free vote according to conscience. With 73 per cent of Britons supporting the principle of legalisation, the debate saw campaigners from both sides lay out emotionally charged cases for and against the legislation.
Meanwhile, the biannual ritual of changing the clocks faced renewed scrutiny. In a debate between sleep expert Dr Megan Crawford and writer Chloe Bennet, the scientific consensus heavily favoured the abolitionists, highlighting the negative health impacts of the seasonal 'time warp'.
Urban Life and Technology in the Spotlight
London's landscape was a hot topic, with creative studio Bompas & Parr proposing a radical vision: turning empty City office blocks into nightlife venues. This debate on adaptive reuse and economic diversification saw night-time industry expert Michael Kill face off against property boss Harry Fenner.
No subject divided Londoners more viscerally than the Lime bike. Hailed as a fashion accessory at London Fashion Week but reviled by many residents, the debate pitted Lime-biker Ed Jones-Davies against impassioned pedestrian Samuel Barnett, who quipped that hell is having a patch outside your flat designated as a Lime parking station.
The influence of technology on the young generation sparked another fierce discussion: Should we ban smartphones in schools? Fueled by Jonathan Haidt's 'The Anxious Generation' and a hit Netflix show, petitioner Sarah Pettitt argued for a ban, while Edtech CEO Josh Blackburn countered that such a move shirks the responsibility to teach young people how to use technology responsibly.
Economics and Safe Havens
Amid economic instability, the age-old question of investing in gold resurfaced as the precious metal hit record highs. Bullion dealer Peter Walden and businesswoman Gina Miller debated whether hoarding the unproductive asset was economically astute or a missed opportunity for growth, given that gold generates no income like dividends or interest.
These seven debates, curated by Deputy Comment and Features Editor Anna Moloney, provided a weekly forum for some of the most pressing and polarising issues facing the UK in 2025, proving that public discourse remains as vibrant and essential as ever.
