Sadiq Khan slams ‘unacceptable’ London lockdown plans August 3, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister reportedly discussed drastic contingency plans to lockdown London in event of a second coronavirus wave without involving City Hall. One of the options discussed by Johnson as part of a “war gaming” session with chancellor Rishi Sunak was using the M25 [...]
Uber launches first commuter boat service on the Thames August 3, 2020 Uber’s first ever UK boat service will set sail on the River Thames today in a new partnership that will see Thames Clippers’ commuter service rebranded by the global ride-hailing giant. Twenty boats will take to the water today as part of the fresh collaboration, with departures from 23 piers across London from Putney to [...]
Local Tories urge Grant Shapps to save ‘vital’ Bakerloo Line extension July 28, 2020 Conservative councillors have urged transport secretary Grant Shapps to guarantee the future of long-awaited Bakerloo Line extension to Lewisham after it was thrown into doubt. Transport for London (TfL) warned last week that the Bakerloo Line extension may “be unable to progress” unless a new funding model is agreed. It is one of four major [...]
Alstom set for green light for €6bn Bombardier rail deal July 27, 2020 French giant Alstom is set to get approval from the EU’s competition watchdog to buy Bombadier’s rail business, paving the way for the creation of the world’s second largest rail firm. Reuters reported that regulators were set to give the deal the go-ahead after Alstom made a number of concessions due to antitrust fears. In [...]
Johnson bans buy one get one free offers amid war on obesity July 27, 2020 Boris Johnson has banned buy one get one free offers and introduced a 9pm watershed on junk food advertising as the Prime Minister wages war on obesity amid the coronavirus crisis. GPs will prescribe Weight Watchers diet plans to overweight patients, as the government attempts to get every overweight Brit to lose 5 lbs. Johnson [...]
Lib Dem candidate Siobhan Benita quits race to become London mayor July 27, 2020 Siobhan Benita, the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for next year’s London mayor election, has stepped down after coronavirus delayed the vote until May 2021. Benita announced her decision today, saying the unpaid role was “very difficult to combine with other work”. Originally Londoners were set to vote on a new mayor in May 2020. However, the [...]
TfL may halt Crossrail 2 work over government funding review July 24, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) today warned it may have to pause work on some of its biggest infrastructure projects, including Crossrail 2, unless it gets a new funding deal from the government. The capital’s transport operator this morning set out its revised budget for the year, saying it would need £3.5bn due to the damage [...]
TfL’s financial blackhole hits £3.5bn as commuters stay home July 24, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) this morning said it would need £3.5bn in funding over the full year due to uncertainty over commuter demand due to the coronavirus. The figure is £300m higher than that laid out in the transport operator’s emergency coronavirus budget in May. It also said that it would require an additional £2.9bn [...]
Face masks in England: The new rules on where and when to wear them July 24, 2020 Face masks are now mandatory in enclosed public spaces in England, after new government rules came into effect on Friday, 24 July. So when do you need to wear them, and in what settings? In shops and supermarkets Face masks are now compulsory if you are entering a shop or supermarket in England, at any [...]
Shaun Bailey accuses Sadiq Khan of misleading MPs over TfL pay July 23, 2020 Shaun Bailey has challenged London mayor Sadiq Khan’s claims that the number of Transport for London employees earning over £100,000 had dropped during his tenure. Speaking to MPs yesterday at a hearing of the transport select committee, Khan was asked by Robert Largan to justify why 557 employees were on such remuneration packages. The mayor [...]