Budget 2017: London Mayor Sadiq Khan “disappointed” there was no Budget backing for Crossrail 2 March 8, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "disappointed" that the government didn't back Crossrail 2 in today's Budget. While the mayor said he was pleased to see progress on devolution, other areas were notably missing from Philip Hammond's announcements. “London did not get everything we needed today," said Khan. "I am disappointed that the government [...]
Chelsea enters the big league after Sadiq Khan signs off new £500m home March 6, 2017 Chelsea's £500m stadium expansion has been given the green light by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, paving the way for a 50 per cent increase in the ground's capacity. The club, currently sitting at the top of the English Premier League, will expand within the tight constraints of its Fulham-based home. Match-day capacity at Stamford Bridge [...]
Taxi for Uber: High Court rules in favour of TfL saying private hire drivers will have to pass a written English exam March 3, 2017 Uber has lost a key part of its High Court case against Transport for London (TfL), after a High Court ruled private hire drivers will be forced to pass a written English exam. The firm did though, win other parts of its case, so it won't have to provide a telephone call centre for passengers open 24 hours [...]
Academics are becoming more and more left-wing, this free market think tank has warned March 2, 2017 The UK's academics are increasingly dominated by the left-wing, according to a new study from a free-market think tank. An estimated three-quarters of academics are left-liberals, according to the Adam Smith Institute, which said the figure reveals the dangers of groupthink in the UK's universities. By contract, just 12 per cent of British academics consider [...]
The SMMT says “anti-diesel agenda” could hinder progress made by car industry on cutting CO2 emissions March 2, 2017 Despite UK CO2 emissions falling for the 19th consecutive year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned an "anti-diesel agenda" threatens to impede progress. The UK car industry beat CO2 targets for last year, with carbon tailpipe emissions falling to an all-time low in 2016. They were 1.1 per cent lower than [...]
The Conservatives’ former leader in the European Parliament has launched a stinging attack on Brexit rebels February 27, 2017 The Conservatives' former top man in the European Parliament has issued a warning against peers interfering with the Article 50 Bill just one day after former Conservative minister Lord Heseltine vowed to fight for amendments. Lord Callanan, the former chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in Brussels, has issued a stinging rebuke to [...]
A hard Brexit could be “crippling” to housebuilding in London, Sadiq Khan has warned February 27, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned almost a quarter of London's construction workforce is facing an uncertain future ahead of Brexit negotiations. Pressing the case for retention of skilled workers as a key priority in Brexit talks, Khan today argued the loss of London's 95,000 European construction workers would have “a seriously detrimental effect” on [...]
Michael Heseltine vows to fight the government on Brexit February 26, 2017 Conservative peer Lord Heseltine has vowed to fight Theresa May's government over Brexit, coming out in favour of opposition amendments to the Article 50 Bill. The Bill, which gives the government the power to begin Brexit talks, is being debated in the Lords, with next week set aside for discussions of amendments. Writing in the Mail on [...]
London mayor blasted for “spectacularly ill-judged” Scottish independence comments February 25, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has left Scottish politicians flabbergasted after comparing nationalism north of the border with racism. Khan is today in Perth, speaking at the Scottish Labour Party conference, and is to deliver a speech that doesn't pull any punches, according to the Daily Record: There’s no difference between those who try to divide [...]
Spiking business rates will lead to an East London tech exodus February 23, 2017 Much has been written about the upcoming business rates revaluation and the significant additional burden that this will place on businesses, large and small. Comparatively little, however, has been said about the impact that this in turn will have on our town centres and business districts. Ultimately, business rates are a property tax rather than [...]