Sadiq Khan’s £15 congestion charge is preventing London’s bounce back from the pandemic August 20, 2021 There is rarely such a thing as a temporary regulation or tax, even those instituted in response to an emergency. Politicians enjoy the power to regulate and even more the receipt of taxes. But regulation and taxes are the enemy of innovation and business, especially small businesses. The damage they do can take years to correct. [...]
The British Kebab Awards: Westminster’s unlikely mainstay event August 18, 2021 For the uninitiated, the British Kebab Awards probably sound like something attended exclusively by shop owners and those people from YouTube who eat the same food for every meal. While these two categories of people should not be taken for granted, the event is in fact better known in SW1 as a mainstay on the [...]
Mayor Khan pushes ahead with controversial Thames tunnel plans August 18, 2021 Mayor Sadiq Khan is pushing ahead with construction plans for the East End’s fourth and most controversial road river crossing. Construction of the £2bn Silvertown tunnel is well-underway and set for completion in 2025. The tolled road tunnel will span between the Royal Docks precinct and Greenwich peninsula, falling within the Ultra Low Emissions Zone [...]
98 per cent of London schools in areas with toxic air quality August 18, 2021 Almost every London school is in an area where air pollution levels exceed World Health Organisation limits, a City Hall analysis suggests. According to the 2016- 2020 report, the average concentration of particulate matter was a third higher at schools in London than in the rest of England. Figures show 98 per cent of schools [...]
Russia planning 2036 Olympic bid as St Petersburg emerges as rival to London August 16, 2021 London will face opposition from Russia if it pursues a bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036. Russia has confirmed it is preparing a bid for the Games, with St Petersburg its leading candidate. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pledged to explore staging the Olympics again, following the success of London 2012, in the [...]
Big screen bonanza: Londoners set for film fest with free Trafalgar Square screenings August 12, 2021 Trafalgar Square will play host to a string of free film screenings later this month as part of a major campaign to bring people back into London and boost the UK film industry. Over the Bank Holiday weekend Londoners and visitors will be able to enjoy the red carpet experience with six free matinee and [...]
Just 15 per cent of central London workers back in the office, says think tank August 12, 2021 Just 15 per cent of central London workers have returned to their place of work, according to new figures from the Centre for Cities think tank. The new figures for the last week of July showed that central London has the lowest amount of workers who have returned to the office out of any city [...]
‘No parade, no protest’: London Pride cancelled due to Covid restrictions August 6, 2021 This year’s Pride celebrations in London have been cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, the event’s organisers have confirmed. The flagship LGBTQ+ event, which was first postponed from 11 June to September, had been expected to attract some 35,000 people. Organisers, who performed risk assessments for the event, said the parade could not be held within [...]
Jab and coke: Heaven nightclub to open a pop-up vaccination centre August 5, 2021 Heaven nightclub will be the scene of a very different kind of afters on Sunday afternoon as the NHS opens a new vaccination centre. Heaven, which is located in Soho and is home to club nights such as G-A-Y, will act as a pop-up vaccination centre from midday until 9pm for all Londoners who have [...]
Sadiq Khan wants to make not wearing a mask on Tube a criminal offence August 5, 2021 Refusing to wear a face mask on the Tube should be made into a criminal offence, Sadiq Khan has said. The mayor of London wants the government to introduce a new bye-law that would enshrine face mask wearing on Transport for London (TfL) in law. Wearing a face mask in enclosed spaces is no longer [...]