Co-op Group under pressure to repay £80m of government funding March 4, 2021 The Co-op board will reportedly meet next week to discuss handing back millions in government cash it was handed during the pandemic. The move would follow in the footsteps of leading supermarkets who returned business rates relief at the end of last year and have pledged to forgo the break announced in the Budget. The [...]
Sadiq Khan rules out driverless trains as a part of next TfL bailout March 4, 2021 Sadiq Khan has said today that the government will not try to force Transport for London (TfL) to implement driverless trains as a part of current bailout negotiations. Khan told a group of reporters at his re-election campaign launch that the government had dropped any request to bring in driverless trains, after initially asking for [...]
Screenshot: Is Uber nearing the end of the road? February 26, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching **Is Uber nearing the end of the road? **Apple’s merger madness Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching Social media is a fickle beast, but if there’s one sure-fire way to generate outrage it’s to insult journalists. That’s what Boris Johnson did this week, [...]
London Tories slam Sadiq Khan’s council tax rise in rival budget February 25, 2021 City Hall Tories are calling on Sadiq Khan to scrap an almost 10 per cent rise in his share of council tax bills. In January the Mayor of London announced plans to hike taxes to create an estimated £40m for concessionary travel programmes. “Council tax is a regressive tax but the Government have left us [...]
Shaun Bailey: Mayor’s £70m Good Growth Fund created only 109 jobs since 2017 February 23, 2021 Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism from Shaun Bailey over Good Growth Fund which has only produced 109 jobs
FTSE reshuffle: Newcomers Dr Martens and Moonpig battle for promotion February 23, 2021 The FTSE 100 is set for another reshuffle next week as the blue-chip index adapts to the pandemic and makes way for a handful of newcomers. FTSE Russell, which runs the index, will decide who’s up and who’s down according to closing prices on 2 March, with changes effective from 19 March. Despite the pandemic [...]
TfL to soon launch Hammersmith ferry service while famous bridge is closed February 23, 2021 A temporary ferry service will soon operate in west London to shuttle pedestrians and cyclists across the Thames alongside the closed Hammersmith Bridge. Transport for London (TfL) announced today that it had received bids from City Cruises and Uber Boats by Thames Clippers to run the shuttle service, after receiving government funding. The new ferry [...]
London should double down in its commitment to arriving Hongkongers February 12, 2021 London has a global responsibility to stand up for Hong Kong – for the autonomy of its people
Sadiq Khan seeks permission to appeal ‘unlawful’ Streetspace ruling February 10, 2021 Sadiq Khan has today submitted an application to appeal against a High Court ruling that deemed his “Streetspace” plan illegal. Last month the court ruled that Khan had “taken advantage” of the pandemic to push through “radical changes” to London’s streets. Justice Lang said that the plan, which banned taxis from using bus lanes in [...]
London leaders urge government to let TfL keep £500m in vehicle duty ahead of new bailout talks February 10, 2021 The leaders of the London Assembly’s political parties have come together to urge transport secretary Grant Shapps to allow the capital to keep the £500m it raises in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) every year. Led by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the leaders have written to the government asking that London receive its “fair share” of the [...]