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 [...]
Bog off: Fatberg finally cleared from Greenwich sewer by Thames Water engineers October 29, 2019 A fatberg the size of a London red bus has been cleared from a sewer by Thames Water engineers – who pulled some of it out by hand. The 40-tonne mass of fat, grease and other waste, was found earlier this year clogging up a Greenwich sewer. Workers at Thames Water spent three weeks trying [...]
‘It can’t get any worse’: What City workers think of another General Election October 29, 2019 It’s that time again: Britain is on course for another General Election, after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced he was ready to fight the “most radical election ever”. But Brits have endured more than three years of uncertainty since the EU referendum, and few groups of workers have felt the effects of it more sharply [...]
Pictured: Police identify two men wanted over Essex lorry deaths October 29, 2019 Police have released the names of two men they want to speak to in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in an Essex lorry last week. Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, who are brothers from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking. Read more: Police make [...]
African Export-Import Bank postpones London IPO October 29, 2019 The African Export-Import Bank has put its plans to float on hold, delivering a fresh blow to London’s ailing initial public offering (IPO) market. Despite confirming just days ago that it was pressing ahead with plans to list in London, the African trade finance group has now put its IPO on ice, citing “unfavourable market [...]
Level up: Lessons from London for boosting the rest of the UK October 29, 2019 Britain’s economy has been distorted. London takes all the jobs, all the talent, all the investment, leaving crumbs for everyone else. For Britain to prosper, the capital needs to be cut down to size. In the wake of the financial crisis, and then of the Brexit vote, this is an argument that has become increasingly [...]