Sadiq Khan calls for government clarity on local lockdown powers June 29, 2020 Sadiq Khan has urged the government to provide more clarity on what powers local authorities have to deal with regional coronavirus outbreaks. The mayor of London wrote to health secretary Matt Hancock today to ask if councils had the power to implement local lockdowns and for additional resources in the case of localised flare ups. [...]
Vodafone likely to snub the City for Frankfurt in towers business listing June 29, 2020 Vodafone is veering away from the City, and is instead eyeing up Frankfurt for the listing of its multi-billion-pound European towers business, in a move that will further position the firm away from Britain. The telecoms firm last week invited advisers to pitch for a role on the planned flotation of its European tower units, [...]
Sadiq Khan backs proposal for quicker 5G rollout in London June 29, 2020 Sadiq Khan has backed a new report that calls for a quicker rollout of 5G infrastructure in London and beyond. A new report out today by former Treasury economist Matthew Oakley, and commissioned by Vodafone, found that an upgrade from 4G to 5G infrastructure would have a £120bn benefit to the UK economy over 10 [...]
Government urged to fast-track 5G roll out to boost coronavirus recovery June 29, 2020 The government could boost overall economic activity by £150bn if the UK were to speed up 5G rollout by two years, a new report has found, as Britain seeks to bolster its economy from the financial turmoil of coronavirus. A new report published today by Vodafone found that the British economy could see productivity gains [...]
Brits struggle to pay household bills as coronavirus crisis deepens June 29, 2020 Arrears on UK household bills continued to swell last month amid abrupt falls in employment, earnings and incomes, as the coronavirus crisis batters the British economy. A report released today by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) showed that mortgage payments slumped 14 per cent last month, as people made use of temporary payment holidays [...]
Twenty-two police officers injured in Brixton street party clash June 25, 2020 Twenty-two police officers were injured during clashes at an illegal street party in Brixton last night after large crowds descended into violence. Two officers were taken to hospital after trying to disperse the “unlicensed music event” near the Angell Town estate in Brixton last night, after residents complained about noise and violence. Footage on social [...]
DEBATE: Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? June 25, 2020 Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? Joanne McCartney, statutory deputy mayor of London, says YES. The catastrophic economic consequences of Covid-19 have already hit London’s economy hard. Unemployment is rising. Millions are furloughed. Tax revenues have fallen. London councils face a budget shortfall of £1.3bn this year. Transport for [...]
Sadiq Khan is wrong — extending the furlough scheme would hinder London’s recovery, not help it June 25, 2020 Warning of a “looming unemployment crisis”, Sadiq Khan this week made an appeal for a further extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), under which more than a million Londoners have been furloughed. His concern for London jobs is understandable. But it would be wrong to continue the scheme beyond October. Furloughing made sense [...]
Jenrick set to release documents on £1bn Westferry property deal June 24, 2020 Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has bowed to political pressure and confirmed he will release “all relevant information” relating to his controversial Westferry Printworks planning decision later today. Jenrick’s decision to give the green light to the East London site 12 days before its developer, former Daily Express owner Richard Desmond, donated £12,000 to the Conservative [...]
Sadiq Khan’s TfL fare freeze not ‘responsible’, says Grant Shapps June 24, 2020 Sadiq Khan’s decision to implement a four-year fare freeze on Transport for London services was not “responsible”, transport secretary Grant Shapps said today. Shapps made the comments when answering questions from the transport select committee about the decision to temporarily suspend free travel for under 18s as part of the government’s £1.6bn bailout of TfL. [...]