TfL takes control of Woolwich Ferry after ‘unacceptable’ delays February 10, 2020 The Woolwich Ferry will be brought back under Transport for London (TfL) control after being plagued by severe delays under the current contractor. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced today that the service would be brought back into City Hall ownership at the end of the year, after deciding not to renew the contract of [...]
Hola, Ola: Meet the latest app to fight for Uber’s London crown February 10, 2020 Transport for London’s (TfL) decision not to renew Uber’s operating licence late last year split commuters down the middle, but the controversial ride-hailing app’s rivals have seized the opportunity to stake their claim to the capital. Uber’s effective ban came over concerns it had not done enough to protect Londoners after TfL identified a “pattern [...]
Sadiq Khan urged to end ‘culture of cronyism’ February 6, 2020 Sadiq Khan has been accused of presiding over a ‘culture of cronyism’ in City Hall after his night czar was paid an extra £1,000 for taking part in a drag act to mark the 2019 borough of culture celebration. The mayor gives £1.3m to the winner of London’s borough of culture which in 2019 was [...]
Alastair Stewart should take comfort in the reaction of his friends and fans February 6, 2020 Last week this column made way for my interview with Sadiq Khan, so I didn’t have the chance to write about the outrageous treatment of broadcaster Alastair Stewart. In the week since, the veteran journalist has maintained a dignified silence, but the chorus of support from friends, colleagues and strangers has grown ever louder. To recap, [...]
Rory Stewart: We need less politics and more action to tackle terrorism February 5, 2020 Speaking to a man in Streatham who’d cradled a bleeding victim after Sunday’s terrorist attack reminded me of many places far away. I remembered the attack on my compound in southern Iraq, the screams and wreckage of bombs in Baghdad and Kabul, my friend Haider who was killed by terrorists, because he worked for me [...]
London is a third more productive than the rest of the UK February 5, 2020 Britain’s regional productivity gap has been laid bare by new statistics that showed London was 32 per cent more productive than the UK average in 2018. The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed that the south east further pulled away from the north east and Yorkshire in 2018 – the most [...]
Man shot dead by armed police in Streatham, South London February 2, 2020 A man has been shot dead by armed officers in Streatham in South London, following an incident that police described as terror-related. The Metropolitan Police said a number of people had been stabbed in Streatham, and later confirmed that the man who had been shot at around 2pm was dead. The Met said there that [...]
Brexit Day celebrations: How the UK is marking 31 January January 31, 2020 After nearly four years since the EU referendum in June 2016, Brexit Day is upon us. Great Britain will finally cut its ties with the European Union on 31 January after that date was repeatedly delayed. The original Brexit date was 29 March 2019. But that was pushed back to 31 October and then 31 [...]
Brexit Day: What the biggest Leavers and Remainers had to say January 31, 2020 As the UK prepares to bring an end to its 47-year membership of the EU tonight at 11pm, here is how some of the major players reacted to Brexit Day today. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Johnson, who will release a video statement tonight, said: “Our job as the government – my job – is [...]
Coronavirus hits UK as first two cases confirmed January 31, 2020 There have been two cases of coronavirus confirmed in the UK today, Public Health England has said. Two people from the same family have tested positive for the virus, according to Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England. The Department of Health has declined to confirm the identities of the pair or where in [...]