London mayor Sadiq Khan brings in minimum salary of £23,000 for the capital’s bus drivers December 21, 2016 The mayor of London's office announced today that a new 'minimum professional London bus driver wage' will be introduced to apply to all new Transport for London (TfL) contracts awarded to bus companies from April next year. Sadiq Khan said he was taking the first step towards fulfilling his election manifesto promise to provide a new fairer deal for [...]
Mayor unveils walking and cycling commissioner to bridge the pedestrian vs cycle superhighway divide December 20, 2016 A Nike director has been chosen by mayor Sadiq Khan as the capital's very first walking and cycling commissioner. Will Norman, currently global partnerships director at Nike, will be tasked with getting London stretching its legs and making non-polluting travel easier. He'll also be working on the development of the capital's cycle superhighways and speaking to [...]
Prime Minister Theresa May says UK could continue paying into the EU budget and sticks to guns on Brexit timetable December 19, 2016 The Prime Minister has today indicated the UK could keep paying into the EU budget post-Brexit, provided government feels it is getting good value for money. Responding to a question in parliament from opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn about payments into the EU, Theresa May said it was the government's intention "that those funds will continue [...]
London Assembly Budget committee raises concerns over mayor’s council tax hike and TfL’s finances December 19, 2016 The mayor's plans to hike council tax for the first time in nine years to pay for the Met Police have raised concern among the London Assembly's Budget and Performance Committee. Ahead of Sadiq Khan's draft 2017-18 budget, the committee set out its concerns and what it considered the big issues facing the Met along with Transport for London [...]
Sadiq Khan unveils Brexit panel featuring Lord Mandelson and Santander chair to advise on getting “best deal” for London December 19, 2016 Sadiq Khan has recruited an assortment of business leaders, investors and academics in an effort to boost London's Brexit credentials. The mayor announced a new Brexit Expert Advisory panel to advise him on the risks, challenges and opportunities for the capital in the wake of June's vote to leave the European Union. Members include Sir George Iacobescu, [...]
MP support for Heathrow expansion reaches new high (says poll commissioned by Heathrow) December 19, 2016 It might have some prominent opposition, from London mayor Sadiq Khan to Boris Johnson, but Heathrow wants to make clear its expansion has hefty backing too. The airport has just released a new poll of 130 MPs by ComRes, which recorded 74 per cent of MPs backing the third runway; a rise of seven percentage points [...]
Newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé hits the Piccadilly line Night Tube for the first of her night surgeries December 16, 2016 The mayor's first night czar starts a pet project of her own tonight. Amy Lamé, who was announced by the mayor last month as night czar, is launching the very first of her night surgeries – where she'll meet the capital's nightlife lovers and night-time workers to find out just what they want to see from [...]
Sadiq Khan announces Philip Kolvin QC as chair of Night Time Commission December 16, 2016 The mayor has picked a licensing expert who acted on behalf of Fabric nightclub to chair his Night Time Commission. Lawyer Philip Kolvin QC will take the reins of a revamped Night Time Commission that'll work alongside newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé. Kolvin is head of Cornerstone Barristers and a patron, and past chairman, of the [...]
Mayor says construction will start on Swiss Cottage-West End cycle superhighway next year though full route isn’t set in stone December 16, 2016 The mayor has confirmed work will start on a new cycle superhighway from Swiss Cottage to the West End next year. Sadiq Khan said construction on the new 2.5 mile route, cycle superhighway 11, will begin in the autumn of 2017 when the gyratory will start to be removed. It was one of the more controversial plans [...]
The nightmare’s nearly over for the Piccadilly line social media team: It’s just running with “minor delays” now December 16, 2016 Piccadilly line passengers have not been impressed with Transport for London (TfL) taking out half the fleet of trains for wheel repairs. It has been causing severe delays along the line since last month – and some turmoil for the poor people manning the Piccadilly line's Twitter account. But today, the account had some – relatively – good [...]