Bank junction in the City will come to a standstill this evening due to a cab drivers demonstration January 12, 2017 Cab drivers are planning to demonstrate in the Square Mile today, with police warning that there will be significant traffic problems for most of this evening as a result. Bank junction will be closed from 4.30pm, ahead of the protest action by United Cabbie Group (UCG), which starts at 5pm and runs until 6.30pm. The cab [...]
The easy sell to the EU that preserves the Single Market for the City January 12, 2017 The UK is about to seriously embark on its programme towards Brexit. We have been promised that the government will exercise the country’s right under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in March 2017, which commences a two-year period of withdrawal negotiations. Those two years will be marked by considerable political activity and, though this [...]
Why we’re restricting traffic at Bank junction January 12, 2017 Bank junction is one of the City’s most iconic spots. The Bank of England, the Mansion House and Royal Exchange make it an instantly recognisable place. However, those who try and pass through – whether on foot, on bicycle or by vehicle – know that it is incredibly busy, especially at peak travel times. Many [...]
Downing St has distanced itself from a £1,000 charge on EU recruitment January 11, 2017 A £1,000 levy on firms recruiting European nationals is not under consideration, Downing Street has insisted. A spokeswoman for Theresa May said the idea was “not on the agenda” just hours after a junior minister Robert Goodwill raised the prospects of firms paying the charge. Robert Goodwill told a House of Lords committee the Immigration [...]
Over 30m journeys have been been made using Sadiq Khan’s one-hour bus Hopper fare in under four months January 11, 2017 Over 30m journeys have now been made using the bus Hopper fare, in under four months since its introduction in September 2016. London mayor Sadiq Khan introduced the new bus Hopper fare enabling passengers to take a £1.50 bus or tram journey and then change onto another bus or tram for free within one hour of [...]
Heathrow and Luton announce record years as passenger numbers at Luton climb by 18.5 per cent January 11, 2017 2016 might not have been everyone's favourite year, but it was certainly a fruitful one for Heathrow. The UK's biggest airport was given the government's blessing for expansion and it's now just announced a record 76m passengers came through its doors for the year, up one per cent on 2015. In the year where the [...]
RMT is balloting London Underground staff for more strike action January 11, 2017 RMT has announced it will be balloting London Underground (LUL) staff for more strike action "over a breakdown in industrial relations". The union also pointed to "numerous breaches of agreed machineries and agreements by LUL management". These include "not consulting or negotiating with RMT over reduced staffing levels within fleet", and "breaching our agreement on Night [...]
It’s time Britain stopped dancing to the tech giants’ tune January 11, 2017 Few tears were shed last summer at the plight of Apple Corporation, whose sweetheart deal with the Irish government was ruled unlawful by the European Union to the tune of a £11bn fine. Predictably, Eurosceptic voices were raised on this side of the Irish Sea relishing the day when the UK will no longer be subject [...]
Value of frauds reaches a five-year high, with London named as a crime hotspot January 11, 2017 The total value of frauds reported increased by just under a third last year to reach a five-year peak, with London remaining a criminal hotspot, figures released today show. BDO's FraudTrack, which keeps tabs on UK reported fraud cases with a value over £50,000, found total reported fraud in 2016 rose to £2bn, up 31.5 per cent [...]
Sadiq Khan says he’s “worried about industrial relations” as TfL seeks talks with unions to avoid more strike chaos January 10, 2017 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was "always worried about industrial relations" after a 24-hour Tube strike caused havoc in the capital yesterday. He was taking questions from the London Assembly about his prospective Budget for the coming year. Chair of the Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon asked Khan how concerned he was that significant restructuring and transformational change [...]