UK social distancing eased under lockdown exit strategy May 11, 2020 The government has eased its social distancing measures, announcing that households will be able to socialise in the park at a two-metre distance or play sports like tennis and golf. The government’s 60-page coronavirus strategy, released today, also revealed that people will be able to meet one friend not from their household in a public [...]
TfL: Londoners should wear face masks on Tube May 11, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) has warned commuters that they will have to “significantly change” the way they travel as the country begins to ease coronavirus lockdown measures. After Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night said that those who could not work from home should return to work, the operator laid out its initial plan to [...]
Taxi drivers, bus drivers and security guards most at risk from Covid-19 May 11, 2020 Security guards, taxi drivers and bus drivers are the professions most at risk from dying from Covid-19, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The new figures also revealed that health workers had no increased risk of dying from coronavirus, but that care workers and home carers had “significantly raised rates [...]
The City View podcast, from City A.M., with Shaun Bailey May 11, 2020 In this episode Christian talks to the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, Shaun Bailey. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Bailey launches a stinging criticism of the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, for “being too slow” in leading the capital’s response to the pandemic. He also warns the Mayor [...]
TfL seeking a £2bn bailout from central government May 10, 2020 Transport for London (TfL) is seeking a £2bn bailout from the government after its finances have been plunged into dire territory by the coronavirus crisis. TfL bosses, including London mayor Sadiq Khan, are in talks with Whitehall to secure the emergency funding after the crisis has left the body with just £1bn in the bank, [...]
Retailers call for shop reopenings based on safety standards May 10, 2020 The reopening of shops after the coronavirus lockdown should be based on safety standards rather than size or business type, a top retail chief has said. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said she expected a “gradual lifting” of the restrictions, with schools and transport the first to reopen. But she [...]
Exit strategy: How and when Boris Johnson will end the UK lockdown May 7, 2020 The Prime Minister is set to reveal a “roadmap” to end UK lockdown measures on Sunday, but what does the exit strategy look like, and when will measures be eased? Last week, Boris Johnson said the UK had “passed the peak” and today chairs a Cabinet meeting that will focus on what restrictions can be [...]
Sadiq Khan unveils plans to transform roads for walkers and cyclists post lockdown May 6, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a new plan to transform the capital’s streets to accommodate a huge increase in walking and cycling once lockdown measures lift. Under the “Street Space” initiative, pavements will be widened and extra cycle lanes put in to allow people to travel to work while maintaining social distancing. Writing in [...]
Sadiq Khan: There will be no swift return to normality for TfL May 6, 2020 The Covid-19 health crisis has led to thousands of Londoners losing their lives with grief, anxiety and anguish touching too many lives. Many businesses and livelihoods have been adversely affected. It has also had a profound impact on public transport in London – and will continue to do so long into the future. Since the [...]
TfL needs a bailout, but nobody should give the Mayor a blank cheque May 5, 2020 As Londoners start to look forward to the end of the lockdown, TfL is in need of a bailout. Otherwise, according to Sadiq Khan, it will run out of cash. On the face of it, there’s nothing remarkable about TfL needing a bailout. Tube ridership is down 94%, buses down 85%. Even if passenger numbers [...]