Levelling up is possible — but the government has to listen to what people want January 27, 2020 Levelling up. This slightly odd turn of phrase is set to become one of the defining tests of the new Johnson government. Inequalities between the regions and nations of the United Kingdom are not a new problem, and nor are central government policy initiatives designed to tackle them. Business communities — particularly those outside the [...]
Police to get more anti-drone powers in fresh crackdown January 27, 2020 The government is planning a fresh crackdown on drones, after a number of near misses in the sky. Ministers hope to give police new powers to land, inspect and seize drones under a bill which has its second reading in Parliament today. Drone pilots could also face on-the-spot fines for failing to prove they have [...]
Flybe looks for another tax delay, weeks after government saves airline January 26, 2020 Flybe is said to have implored airports to give it more time to find millions of pounds it owes them in unpaid landing fees. Europe’s biggest regional airline held crisis talks with airports including Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton, according to reports. It is said to be in a race against time to plug a [...]
Crunch time: Boris Johnson to meet ministers over HS2 decision ‘this week’ January 26, 2020 Boris Johnson is thought to be preparing for a crunch meeting with chancellor Sajid Javid and transport secretary Grant Shapps over the future of the HS2 rail line this week. The meeting could well be a combative one, after a torrid week for supporters of the beleaguered project. On Monday, it emerged the price tag [...]
Northern Rail set to be nationalised ‘this week’ amid franchising chaos January 26, 2020 Northern Rail could be renationalised as early as this week, as the government tries to contain a period of chaos on Britain’s railways. The franchise operator, Arriva, is thought to be gearing up to hand the franchise back to the government’s Operator of Last Resort (OLR). Earlier this month, transport secretary Grant Shapps said the [...]
Go-Ahead to deploy air filtering buses across the UK January 25, 2020 Go-Ahead is set to deploy its so-called air filtering buses in six more regions around the UK this year after a successful trial in Southampton. The transport operator is accelerating its shift toward greener technology with its pollutant-tackling buses that remove dirty particles from the air. The single-decker buses are fitted with air filtering systems [...]
Javid dismisses Ryanair complaint over Flybe rescue package January 24, 2020 Chancellor Sajid Javid has insisted that embattled airline Flybe has not received state aid to ensure its survival. In a letter to Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, Javid said that the decision to defer Air Passenger Duty (APD) for Flybe was a “standard ‘Time to Pay’ arrangement…because of their short-term difficulties”. The chancellor’s letter, which [...]
British Steel: Unions endorse Jingye takeover but 500 jobs could be at risk January 24, 2020 Unions have backed Chinese firm Jingye’s rescue deal to save British Steel after extensive discussions but up to 500 jobs could be cut under new ownership. The Steel Committee met with Jingye representatives to discuss their business plan and in particular their proposals relating to employment, including pay and terms and conditions. Any new owner [...]
Boris can lead a Conservative council housing revolution January 24, 2020 With Boris Johnson now undisputed world king of the post-Brexit scene, the only relevant policy debates are those going on inside the government itself. These are yielding unusual fruit. Esther McVey, a deep-dyed Thatcherite and an advocate of blue-collar Conservatism, has been arguing for more council housing. The housing minister wants to help those “left [...]
Uber ramps up British charm offensive with sweeping Nissan deal January 24, 2020 Nissan and Uber have signed a deal that will provide the ride-hailing giant’s drivers with a fleet of new electric cars, as Uber attempts to lay on the charm with on British authorities. The Japanese car maker will provide 2,000 new Nissan Leaf cars, made at the firm’s factory in Sunderland, to Uber at a [...]