Why the Old War Office is the most significant London hotel launch in years September 20, 2023 What’s the Old War Office? Well, it’s two things. Firstly, it’s the old war office where Churchill valiantly conducted the war effort, and it’s also a brand spanking new London hotel that’s likely going to be the poshest new hotel to open in London in years. The building opened in 1906, but the hotel’s opening [...]
US and Japanese diplomats in the spotlight as envoys in London owe £150m in congestion charges September 14, 2023 Foreign diplomats in London owe nearly £150m in congestion charge debt, ministers have said. It comes as new figures given to MPs showed that 15 serious and significant offences, including sexual assault and drunk-driving, were allegedly committed by diplomats or those entitled to diplomatic immunity between 2019 to 2022. The new details came in two written ministerial statements published [...]
Another HS2 mess: Downing Street refuses to guarantee it will run to Manchester September 14, 2023 Downing Street has refused to guarantee the HS2 railway line will run to Manchester as planned.
Tipping point? City grandees say Square Mile could be set for Big Bang 2.0 September 12, 2023 The City of London is at an "inflection point," with nearly two thirds of financial services leaders warning that the City's star will wane without intervention.
Westminster’s alleged spy for China says he is ‘completely innocent’ September 11, 2023 The parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of being a spy for China has insisted he is “completely innocent”. The man said he had spent his career highlighting the “challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party”. The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to the Prime Minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at [...]
City could inject £225bn into the economy after regulation refresh, top firms claim September 7, 2023 The City could inject an extra £225bn into the economy if regulators strip back red tape around financial services and unleash a wave of pension capital into the economy, a group of top firms have claimed.
London business confidence hits highest level since May last year August 31, 2023 Business confidence in London surged to its highest level since May last year, as firms around the country were increasingly optimistic about the UK economy. Business confidence in London rose 20 points during August to hit 52 per cent, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. Some 56 per cent of firms were confident in [...]
Sadiq Khan ‘shelves plans to charge fossil fuel cars driving into central London’ amid Ulez furore August 30, 2023 Sadiq Khan has shelved plans to potentially charge all combustion-engined cars driving into central London, it has been reported, after he spent Tuesday defending the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). Proposals outlined in the Mayor’s 2018 transport strategy for a “zero emission zone” in the heart of the capital have been dropped, the [...]
It’s not me, it’s you: Jassy warns Amazon staff it might not work out if they’re working from home too much August 29, 2023 Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy told workers “it’s probably not going to work out for [them]” if they don’t accept the company’s three-days-in-the-office mandate. “It’s past the time to disagree and commit,” Jassy reportedly said in a meeting last week, referred to internally as a ‘fishbowl’. “And if you can’t disagree and commit, I also [...]
‘Don’t be a TWaT’: Goldman orders staff to ‘work in the office five days a week’ August 23, 2023 Goldman Sachs has reminded its employees to come into the office five days a week as banks continue the fight to get staff back into the office. The Wall Street giant led the way in demanding that employees come back into work after the pandemic. Boss David Solomon has previously described homeworking as an aberration. [...]