Covid crisis is an opportunity to put digital at the heart of our democracy February 11, 2021 It’s official: the long-awaited climax of the London Mayoral race is scheduled for May 6th, when polling stations across the city will throw open their doors for the first time since the start of the pandemic. But in a world now heavily mediated by online interaction, questions must be asked as to why this opportunity [...]
London pubs and restaurants face ‘bombshell’ without action on business rates, Khan says February 10, 2021 London pubs, restaurants, shops and other hospitality firms have saved more than £3bn due to the business rates holiday, it was revealed today, as pressure mounted on the government to extend the break. Figures showed that 73,140 retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in the capital had benefited from the business rates holiday during the pandemic [...]
Sadiq Khan seeks permission to appeal ‘unlawful’ Streetspace ruling February 10, 2021 Sadiq Khan has today submitted an application to appeal against a High Court ruling that deemed his “Streetspace” plan illegal. Last month the court ruled that Khan had “taken advantage” of the pandemic to push through “radical changes” to London’s streets. Justice Lang said that the plan, which banned taxis from using bus lanes in [...]
Exclusive: Brexit hit to London may top £9.5bn a year without EU financial services deal February 10, 2021 As the heart of the UK's service sector economy, London is in line to lose up to £9.9bn a year if a post-Brexit deal on financial services doesn't protect the City, new research out this morning finds.
London leaders urge government to let TfL keep £500m in vehicle duty ahead of new bailout talks February 10, 2021 The leaders of the London Assembly’s political parties have come together to urge transport secretary Grant Shapps to allow the capital to keep the £500m it raises in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) every year. Led by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the leaders have written to the government asking that London receive its “fair share” of the [...]
London facing ‘cultural catastrophe’ due to Covid-19 pandemic February 9, 2021 London’s creative and commercial sectors will have to team up to tackle the “cultural catastrophe” caused by coronavirus, the City of London Corporation has said. In a report published today, the corporation warned of the “devastating” impact of the pandemic and outlined steps needed to restore the capital’s competitive advantage as a cultural and commercial [...]
Londoners could face tougher face mask rules in transport crackdown February 5, 2021 Tube and bus passengers in London could be made to wear higher-grade face masks to help combat new mutant strains of Covid-19. Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London have both launched reviews of current guidance amid concerns about the rapid spread of the so-called Kent strain across the UK. Face coverings have been mandatory [...]
More than 1m Londoners have received first dose of Covid vaccine February 4, 2021 More than 1m people in London have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, following concerns that the capital had been falling behind in the nation’s immunisation programme. Official figures published last night showed 1,011,490 Londoners have received their first dose of either the Astrazeneca/Oxford University or Pfizer/Biontech vaccines, while a further 60,658 people [...]
Grant Shapps: Sadiq Khan cannot ‘raid national budget’ to fix TfL finances February 3, 2021 Grant Shapps has this morning said that Sadiq Khan cannot “just raid the national budget” to fix Transport for London’s ailing finances. Speaking to the Transport Select Committee, the transport secretary said that it would not be fair on taxpayers to fund services and concessions that were not available outside of London. The comments raise [...]
Kent Covid variant has mutated again and may be immune to vaccine February 2, 2021 The coronavirus variant first identified in Kent has acquired a mutation that may be partially resistant to vaccines, senior scientists have warned. The E484K mutation is the same change that has been identified in both the Brazilian and South African variants that have sparked international concern. Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group [...]