City firms must prove their responsible business credentials to attract top talent November 4, 2019 Brexit has been top of the agenda for many City firms, but there is so much more that they should be thinking about. When I speak to young City workers at the start of their careers, they want to know that their employers are standing up and making a positive difference. They want to work [...]
Toxic Tube a health hazard for commuters November 3, 2019 Commuters on the London Underground inhale on average tens of millions of toxic particles a minute, including iron dust, clothing fragments and their fellow passenger’s dead skin cells. The Sunday Times has revealed that the Tube has some of the most polluted air in Britain, with levels of toxicity 18 times higher than on surface [...]
Essex lorry deaths: Police begin contacting victims’ families with all 39 believed to be Vietnamese November 2, 2019 Police have begun contacting the families of the 39 found dead in a lorry in Essex last week, all of whom are now believed to be Vietnamese. “At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese government,” a statement from Essex Police said. Read more: Essex [...]
To speak or not to speak: The battle for free speech November 1, 2019 I remember the excitement of setting up my first Personal Computer and being able to get email. The potential to connect with people from around the world in an instance was inspiring, as was the sense that the Information Superhighway and World Wide Web were going to transform our world forever. I also remember being [...]
Police urge brothers to hand themselves in after Essex lorry deaths November 1, 2019 Police have urged two brothers wanted over the deaths of 39 people inside a lorry trailer in Essex to hand themselves in. Essex Police called on Ronan Hughes and Christopher Hughes to go to their nearest police station to help officers investigating the discovery of the bodies last month. “Today I want to make a [...]
This may be the ideal time for a debate on a written constitution October 31, 2019 Recent events in parliament have led many people to ask whether this country needs a proper – or at least written – constitution. This suggests that we do not possess either of these things already. This is to some degree misguided, as significant parts of our constitution are already written and enshrined in legislation, all [...]
It’s Halloween: Beware the horror of an inescapable Brexit deadline October 31, 2019 By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. And, though it may not be the devilry and delight of a Halloween Brexit, the new horror of an Advent election should fill us all with dread. Of the many spooky things in this world, the deadline is perhaps the most tense, highly-strung genre [...]
Revealed: TfL tightened Uber’s driver checks in London licence extension October 30, 2019 Uber’s licensing restrictions have been revealed to include stringent checks on drivers’ documentation and insurance, prompting claims the ride-hailing app has in the past harboured unlicensed drivers. Restrictions were placed on Uber by Transport for London (TfL) in September as a part of a two-month licence extension in September. Read more: Uber suffers blow as [...]
TfL ‘can’t rule out’ Thor’s hammer as cause of huge London Overground delays October 30, 2019 Travel chaos hit London Overground commuters today as the service suffered suspensions due to a track obstruction. Londoners coming into the city were forced to find alternative routes with no service between Highbury & Islington and New Cross, Clapham Junction, West Croydon and Crystal Palace. Read more: Crossrail is at risk of even more delays [...]
London can show the country how to do democracy better October 30, 2019 A General Election is coming, and I am leaving parliament to run as an independent candidate for mayor of London. I am running to be mayor and not for parliament because I find Westminster increasingly depressing as it loses more and more of its meaning and purpose in stale divisive rows. And I believe that [...]