The Secret River review: Edinburgh Festival hit a triumph at the National Theatre September 10, 2019 A smash at the Edinburgh Festival, The Secret River has transferred to the National Theatre. Slow-paced, thoughtful and direct, it demonstrates a basic truth; that the process of colonisation is inherently violent. Will Thornhill was living in Dickensian poverty in early 19th century London; forced into thievery, and – like Magwitch – transported to New [...]
Tube delays: Disruption strikes Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines September 10, 2019 Severe delays are affecting three London Underground lines today as commuters face a difficult journey into work. Read more: Northern Line suspension causes day of misery for Tube commuters The Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and the Metropolitan Line all suffered disruption in this morning’s rush hour as Transport for London (TfL) advised commuters [...]
Boris Johnson hatches plan to devolve rail power to the north September 8, 2019 Boris Johnson is preparing to hand leaders in the north responsibility for train services as part of a big industry shakeup. Two struggling rail franchises, Northern and the Transpennine Express, are to be devolved to a new body that would be similar to Transport for London in the capital. Read more: Southeastern among franchises placed [...]
British Airways strikes: No 10 tells BA and pilots to ‘sort out’ dispute September 6, 2019 Downing Street has urged British Airways and its pilots to “sort out” the pay dispute behind a planned series of strikes starting next week. “The unions and BA need to get round the table and sort this out. The public would expect nothing less,” said Number 10. Read more: British Airways strikes and IT glitches [...]
Which London Boy location should Taylor Swift snap up a home in? September 6, 2019 When Taylor Swift released her latest album, Londoners were surprised to find she had penned an ode to our city in a track called London Boy. In the song, she travels around the capital using routes that anyone with a cursory knowledge of the transport system would find completely illogical, such as going from Shoreditch [...]
Business must look beyond no-deal prep and plan for a globally competitive future September 6, 2019 A brand new chancellor, same old challenge. It’s the issue that brought us to Brexit, and the one that will underpin its impact: flatlining UK productivity. Sajid Javid and Philip Hammond may not be on the same side this week, but both chancellors entered Number 11 to confront this same priority. On Wednesday, Javid stood [...]
Mike Pence: The minute the UK is out of the EU, the US is in September 5, 2019 The US Vice President has tonight pledged a free trade deal with the UK “immediately upon the completion of Brexit”, saying Donald Trump stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the new Prime Minister. Speaking at a black-tie dinner at Guildhall in the City of London this evening, Mike Pence told business chiefs the country was like a phoenix [...]
Shaun Bailey confirms he will increase Tube fares – but says a price hike is already coming September 5, 2019 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has confirmed he would put up Tube fares after saying the current mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, would do the same. Bailey, who is looking to replace Khan as London mayor in next year’s election, said a Transport for London (TfL) fare hike was a “done deal”. Read more: Shaun [...]
Minister will make ‘go, no-go’ decision on HS2 in December September 5, 2019 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has he will make a “go, no-go” decision on controversial high-speed rail project HS2 in December after a government-ordered review. Speaking to MPs today Shapps said that the review will look at HS2’s affordability, deliver ability, benefits, scope and phasing. Read more: HS2 needs a radical rethink to give Britain better [...]
No time left to appoint new firm for Southeastern franchise, says Go-Ahead September 5, 2019 The government does not have the time to run a full competition for the Southeastern rail franchise before it expires next April, the chief executive of incumbent operator Go-Ahead has warned. David Brown said it would be “slightly wrong” and “counter-intuitive” for the Department for Transport (DfT) to bring in a new operator for the [...]