EU referendum: More Londoners want to stay in the EU than leave, but with a large number of undecided voters all is to play for February 23, 2016 Battle lines may have been drawn in Westminster, but all is yet to play for in London in the build up to the EU referendum in June. While most Londoners want to remain in the EU, the lead is not overwhelming and with a large number of voters undecided the outcome is far from certain, according [...]
London house prices: Londoners need a 266 per cent pay rise to be able to afford a property in the capital February 23, 2016 Londoners need a 266 per cent pay rise to be able to afford a mortgage on a home in the capital, a leading industry body has claimed, painting a bleak picture for prospective buyers. The National Housing Federation (NHF), which represents affordable housing providers, said the average London home now costs £526,085 – more than [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith earned more than £10m in the last five years, paid almost £700k in taxes last year alone February 22, 2016 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has today published new details about his tax returns for the last five years, after facing tough questions on his previous "non dom" status. According to a letter released by Goldsmith's campaign from PwC (see below), Goldsmith paid £692,870 in income and capital gains taxes last year, and another £4,573.32 in National Insurance [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith’s belief in Brexit on EU referendum proves he champions what’s right – not just what’s political February 22, 2016 Neither the former or current Mayors of London could be described as party poodles. London has a history of rewarding straight talking, independent minded candidates and Zac Goldsmith has those attributes in spades. Of course as a fellow Tory I’d be supporting him in his bid to be the Mayor of London, but at a [...]
EU referendum: Zac Goldsmith wants to leave the EU but Sadiq Khan and Caroline Pidgeon side with “stay” as Mayor of London candidates decide positions February 21, 2016 Mayoral hopeful Zac Goldsmith will vote in favour of leaving Europe in the referendum due to be held in June, it has been revealed. Fellow candidates in the running to replace Boris Johnson have taken the opposite view and said they will vote to stay in Europe. Labour candidate Sadiq Khan said the EU was vital [...]
The Lord Mayor is taking too many overseas trips, according to a new City of London Corporation report by Sir Simon Fraser February 18, 2016 The Lord Mayor of London should cut down on the number of overseas trade promotion visits he takes, a new report commissioned by the City of London Corporation has recommended. The report, written by Sir Simon Fraser, a partner at consultancy Flint Global who previously worked at the Foreign Office and Department for Business, is aimed at [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith says he will reveal his tax returns if Labour candidate Sadiq Khan and others do the same February 17, 2016 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has said he will publish his tax returns in the run-up to May's City Hall election, after being questioned on his previous "non dom" status. "Of course I will," Goldsmith said last night on the BBC when asked if he would reveal his tax records. "I think all candidates should in [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Liberal Democrat candidate Caroline Pidgeon talks childcare, Tube and bus fares, congestion charge, airport expansion February 16, 2016 As the Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor of London, Caroline Pidgeon dismisses suggestions that the contest to replace Boris Johnson in City Hall is a two-horse race between Labour hopeful Sadiq Khan and Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith. But she does not shy away from slamming the front-runners for being too self-important in their efforts to become [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin says government won’t pay for Labour candidate Sadiq Khan’s fare freeze February 9, 2016 A Cabinet minister has rejected Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan's proposals for freezing Transport for London (TfL) fares until at least 2020, saying central government will not pick up the bill for any unfunded City Hall schemes. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin attacked Khan's fare pledges today, saying they would put infrastructure projects in the capital "at [...]
Mayoral Tech Manifesto 2016: We must liberalise skilled visa policy to ensure the success of London’s tech sector February 9, 2016 The new Mayoral Tech Manifesto 2016 outlines the bold steps the next mayor must take to maintain London’s position as the digital capital of Europe, and make it a truly digital city for businesses and citizens. But can it be done? In theory, it can. If the infrastructure, investment and government decision-making aligns, the opportunity is there for [...]