Sadiq Khan says Night Tube services will start on the Piccadilly line from 16 December November 1, 2016 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that Night Tube services will start on the Piccadilly line on Friday 16 December – sticking to his pledge to have five lines running by the end of the year. It follows the launch of the service on the Central, Victoria and Jubilee lines, with the Northern [...]
Premium Bonds stand the test of time and celebrate their 60th birthday today November 1, 2016 There aren't many government initiatives that go pretty much untouched for 60 years. But the iconic Premium Bond celebrates its diamond anniversary today and while some elements may have changed, the central idea remains the same. Harold Macmillan launched Premium Bonds in 1956 as part of a government initiative to encourage post-war Britons to save more. The [...]
Powa play: Dan Wagner ready for legal battle with former director Ben White over collapse of fintech unicorn November 1, 2016 With its multi-billion-dollar valuation, plush Heron Tower headquarters and outspoken founder, British fintech “unicorn” Powa was billed as Britain’s answer to Google – until, in February this year, it sensationally collapsed into administration. Now City A.M. can reveal the collapse is set to trigger a bloody courtroom battle as two of the story’s protagonists go head [...]
New New Scotland Yard? Met Police leaves home of 49 years October 31, 2016 The Metropolitan Police today left its New Scotland Yard HQ after 49 years. The building, close to Victoria, will now be known simply as 10 Broadway after being sold for £370m. The police force has relocated to a new, slimmed down premises known as Curtis Green on the Victoria Embankment. Read more: Met Police launch investigation into [...]
Heathrow’s already started spending on its third runway October 31, 2016 The government's backing of Heathrow airport expansion has triggered £50m of supply chain investment. Suffice to say the airport was ready and raring to go ahead of the government's decision to green light its expansion last week. Heathrow said the government's backing meant that £50m will be invested before the end of next year, creating 2,700 new British [...]
This week’s Southern strikes are set to go ahead with RMT dismissing Govia deadline as “more threats and bullying” October 31, 2016 Govia Thameslink Railway (the parent company of Southern Railway) is playing hardball. It's now told the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union it will rescind its "full and comprehensive offer" if strike action, planned for later this week (4 and 5 November) goes ahead. Essentially, it's the last chance for RMT to accept GTR's previously [...]
Lord David Blunkett says Heathrow expansion must deliver on closing the skills gap October 31, 2016 Legal challenges, what legal challenges? Heathrow has announced the names of 13 members of its new skills taskforce, led by Lord David Blunkett, which meets for the first time today. And Blunkett has said that Heathrow must deliver a long-term skills legacy for the nation, warning that a coordinated skills strategy on infrastructure was necessary to learn [...]
Here are all the rail and station closures in London over Christmas October 31, 2016 Brace yourselves, commuters. There have been many headlines about incoming Christmas travel chaos, and now Network Rail has announced major station closures as an extensive programme of rail improvements goes ahead, it looks like there'll be a few more yet… Read more: Could Network Rail have to go cap in hand to the government? Rail [...]
London must shake off its complacency over housing and infrastructure if it’s to thrive post-Brexit October 31, 2016 Rarely has a ranking of the world’s greatest cities been released in the past few years without London at its top, or very near it. PwC recently named the capital the world’s best city for opportunity, praising its economic clout, its attractiveness to foreign direct investment, its highly skilled workforce, and its status as a [...]
We can renew London once again post-Brexit – if we channel the can-do spirit of our ancestors in facing up to our housing and infrastructure challenges October 31, 2016 London has always risen again. This is the 350th anniversary of its greatest resurrection. Our ancestors in 1666 reacted to the Great Fire with a speed and coordination that defies belief. They tax-incentivised developers, ran the first national charitable appeal, invented modern fire insurance, and worked day and night for free. Compared with the Great Fire, [...]