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 [...]
Face masks mandatory in English shops and supermarkets from Friday July 23, 2020 Face masks will be mandatory at all enclosed public spaces in England from tomorrow, including shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs. The new laws will also count for people buying takeaway food and drink from cafes and shops, however you will be able to take your face covering off to eat at this type of venue [...]
TfL stops 30,000 commuters not wearing face masks July 22, 2020 Transport for London enforcement officers have so far stopped 33,500 people from getting on public transport unless they put on face masks, according to the latest figures. A further 1,983 people were prevented from boarding services without masks, while 475 people were ejected from modes of transport. From those who were not able to get [...]
Crossrail set for further delays and cost increases due to coronavirus July 22, 2020 The long-awaited Crossrail transport project will face further delays and additional costs due to the coronavirus pandemic, London mayor Sadiq Khan has said. Much of the work on the huge rail project had to be suspended in the spring due to safety concerns over working in confined spaces. Speaking to the transport select committee this [...]
Sadiq Khan suggests London tax autonomy in new TfL bailout deal July 22, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested that the government should consider giving the capital freedom to spend its own tax takings to fund Transport for London (TfL). Speaking to the parliamentary transport select committee this morning, Khan said that one of the options for the future funding of the embattled operator should be “proper fiscal [...]
Sadiq Khan launches finance review of London transport network after coronavirus impact July 22, 2020 Sadiq Khan has today launched an independent review of Transport for London’s (TfL) long-term funding and financing options. The panel will carry out its work in parallel with the government’s already-announced review of the transport network. TfL’s finances have collapsed in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic, with passenger revenues plummeting more than 90 [...]