Boris Johnson vows to transform economy in policy-light party conference speech October 6, 2021 Boris Johnson has vowed to transform the UK into a “high wage, high skill” economy in a Tory party conference speech that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy. In a classic Johnson speech, the Prime Minister made a bevy of jokes about Labour, numerous literary references and promises to “build back better” and [...]
Johnson: ‘Sadiq Khan has not handled the finances of TfL well’ October 5, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson has criticised London mayor Sadiq Khan’s handling of Transport for London (TfL) finances, snubbing Khan’s plan to impose a £5.50 levy for those driving into London. The charge is intended to fuel London’s transport system, which is looking for some £8bn to fund an extension of the Bakerloo line to Lewisham. [...]
TfL in further cash plea to government to keep London moving October 3, 2021 Transport for London has asked the Treasury for a further half a billion worth of support for the rest of the financial year and for a further £1.2bn next year to “ensure London’s recovery” from the pandemic. Documents submitted by the capital’s transport authority to the government’s spending review include a commitment from TfL to [...]
Consultancy ads for driverless Tube trains prompt unions to issue strike threat September 28, 2021 A range of adverts for a consultancy contract to explore the introduction of driverless trains on London Underground has prompted a leading rail workers union to raise the threat of industrial action. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the move was part of Government-driven spending cuts on the Tube. General secretary Mick Lynch said [...]
Downing Street has cycling lanes row with TfL over £100m funding allocation September 27, 2021 Long-running tensions between Downing Street and City Hall have ignited again, after Transport for London (TfL) were slapped down over plans to give £100m to councils that have ripped out cycle lanes. Documents obtained by The Telegraph showed that TfL wanted to give £100m to councils that had removed cycling lanes and eliminated low traffic [...]
Exclusive: Waterloo and City line set to fully reopen “very, very soon” September 27, 2021 Transport for London’s (TfL) Commissioner has said that crucial commuter artery the Waterloo & City line could fully reopen by the end of the year. “The fact that the City is now getting busier means we are actively looking at when we can increase to full service on the Waterloo & City line so I [...]
Sunak must nurture British business with fair taxes and smart reforms September 27, 2021 London’s famous vibrancy has returned. City streets once again teem with activity, pent up for so long but now unleashed. Yet it would be a mistake to assume the journey ahead is an easy one. London – like the rest of the UK – stands at a crossroads. And the path we choose will decide [...]
ONS: Seven in 10 workers are back in the office as September surge acclerates September 24, 2021 Seven in 10 workers in the UK are back in the office as the September surge back to pre-pandemic working practices accelerates, according to official figures. 70.1 per cent of workers are back at their normal place of work, research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. The figures come as usage of Transport [...]
Lucrative Covid-19 contracts drive profits at outsourcer Mitie September 24, 2021 Outsourcer Mitie has lifted its profit guidance due to a string of Covid-linked contracts, which saw it clean Heathrow and Manchester airport, alongside Transport for London (TfL). It now expects operating profit before other items to hit between £145m and £155m, the company said in its half year update. “In our first quarter trading update [...]
TfL sanctions for bare-faced commuters slump September 23, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) slapped six non-mask wearing commuters per day with fines in July in the run-up to “Freedom Day” as policing of Covid-19 prevention measures on the capital’s transport network waned. TfL imposed 123 fines on commuters for not wearing a mask in July, a 79 per cent drop from June’s 590 fines. [...]