Now Tube workers on the Piccadilly line are voting on strikes October 27, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has been busy. Yesterday it announced it was balloting Southern Rail drivers over the long-running dispute on the role of guards, and 3,500 London Underground staff following a security incident at North Greenwich Tube station. The union said the incident had put safety "back at the top of the agenda". Read [...]
Spirit of the financial age – 30 years after the City’s Big Bang October 27, 2016 The Big Bang City revolution of 1986 — exactly thirty years ago — was a game-changer that allowed the City to become not only de-regulated but a brave new world of graduate opportunity. Today, it is very different: with much tightened regulation, tough new ‘ring fencing’ of the old casino banking system (separating investment banking [...]
Attention Philip Hammond: CBI wants longer maternity leave and a £6bn investment boost in the Autumn Statement October 27, 2016 As the unveiling of the chancellor's Autumn Statement draws closer, lobby groups are setting out their proposals in the hope Philip Hammond might listen. The CBI has just unveiled its wishlist and it's calling on the chancellor to take on an £11.5bn shopping list of measures, that would fall to around £7bn by 2020/21. Read [...]
The Big Bang 30 years on: How the City went from bowler hats and liquid lunches to smartphones and tossed salads October 26, 2016 There’s now a whole generation of City workers – and City A.M. readers – who weren’t even born when the markets were deregulated back in 1986. Standing in Leadenhall Market on a week-day afternoon, they could be forgiven for thinking the City hadn’t changed all that much over the last 30 years. Hundreds of besuited [...]
Inside Big Bang: The chaotic October morning that created the modern City October 26, 2016 Shortly before 8am, as Sir Nicholas Goodison surveyed the floor of the Exchange crowded with foreign television crews and curious journalists, he was a little apprehensive. After so much hype about the possibilities of what had been termed Big Bang, and difficult negotiations with Margaret Thatcher’s ministers, and efforts to persuade the more conservative elements [...]
Victoria Line services delayed after person hit by train at Seven Sisters October 26, 2016 Services on the Victoria Line are subject to severe delays this afternoon after a person was killed after being hit by a train at Seven Sisters Tube station earlier today. British Transport Police (BTP) were alerted to reports that a person had been hit by a train at the North London station at around 11.15am. "Officers attended [...]
Combined Tube and Southern strike action to set up Christmas chaos October 26, 2016 More good news for Christmas commuters: not only has the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union confirmed it will ballot 3,500 London Underground workers for strike action, it’s also balloting drivers on Southern Rail. The ballot will open next Friday on the 4 November and close on the 18 November, mirroring the timetable planned for [...]
Cheapside reopens after being evacuated and closed off by police after suspicious vehicle reported October 26, 2016 City of London police have confirmed that a security alert in the Square Mile has now been dealt with and all roads have been reopened. We have dealt with the incident and the area is now safe. Roads have been re-opened. Thank you for your patience. — City of London Police (@CityPolice) October 26, 2016 [...]
BT’s giving London’s phone boxes a revamp and they’ve got free Wi-Fi October 26, 2016 BT’s made a rather bold decision – it’s giving London’s phone boxes a makeover. The telecoms group has announced plans to replace the traditional boxes with kiosks called Links, in a new service LinkUK, offering free calls to UK landline and mobile phones, free Wi-Fi access and charging facilities. Hundreds of users within range of [...]
Chris Grayling says Heathrow’s considering a “ramp runway” over the M25 October 26, 2016 As debate rages on over Heathrow’s expansion and how deliverable it is, transport secretary Chris Grayling said the idea of building a ramp for the new Heathrow runway is being considered. The “ramp runway” would be built over the M25 and the transport secretary says it would be “cheaper and quicker” than moving the M25. Speaking on BBC [...]