Minicab drivers in London are protesting against English language tests December 8, 2016 Minicab drivers in the capital will protest today against new rules on language tests which have been called "completely unfair". Drivers, represented by GMB union, will demonstrate at City Hall against the introduction of English language requirements by Transport for London. Hundreds of drivers are expected to turn out to protest against the "ludicrously priced" exam. All [...]
TfL plans to save £800m as it sheds management layers and cuts jobs to deliver mayor’s spending ambitions December 8, 2016 Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled its five-year business plan to achieve the big investments Sadiq Khan has been announcing – and it involves trimming jobs to save £800m a year. The mayor has unveiled funding for a range of issues from £770m on London's cyclists to £200m on step-free access on the Underground, along with [...]
Conservative MP Bob Neill wants Grayling to resign over “cynical, party political move” on suburban rail services December 8, 2016 A leaked letter from Chris Grayling to former mayor Boris Johnson saying he wanted to keep suburban rail services "out of the clutches" of any future Labour mayor has prompted a flurry of criticism. And at the forefront of it, Bob Neill, former Conservative Party vice chairman and MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, has called for [...]
Ongoing delays on Circle Line due to staff absences December 7, 2016 There are delays on the Circle Line this afternoon. Transport for London said the disruption was a result of a "temporary absence of train operators". https://twitter.com/circleline/status/806525562638503936 Severe delays on the Piccadilly Line are still ongoing, with a large portion of its fleet of trains out for repairs. https://twitter.com/piccadillyline/status/806434485332049921 Disruption on the line is [...]
Italian senate signs off on 2017 budget, clearing the way for PM Renzi to resign December 7, 2016 Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will hand in his resignation today at 6pm London time, it has been reported, after the country's parliament approved Italy's 2017 budget. Renzi was earlier in the week asked to stay on until after the budget was passed by Italy's president Sergio Mattarella. The 41-year-old Italian premier promised to quit [...]
London Assembly calls on Grayling to reconsider Transport for London’s proposals to take over Southeastern December 7, 2016 The London Assembly has passed an urgent motion calling on the transport secretary to reconsider his decision not to devolve franchise management to Transport for London (TfL). Leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly, Len Duvall, who proposed the motion, said the issue was "far too important" to be used for party political purposes. Duvall said [...]
Leaked rail letter: Grayling said he wanted suburban rail “out of the clutches” of Labour December 7, 2016 The transport secretary has been criticised for "political point scoring" and faced calls to resign, after a leaked letter said he wanted to "keep suburban rail services out of the clutches of any future Labour mayor". Yesterday Chris Grayling rejected Sadiq Khan's bid to take over commuter routes, saying the mayor hadn't proved his alternative would [...]
Mayor doubles funding on improving London’s air quality to clean up the capital December 7, 2016 Sadiq Khan has made no secret of his aims to tackle the capital's air pollution problem. And now the mayor has pledged to invest £875m to tackle air quality over the next five years – more than doubling spending on it, after his predecessor Boris Johnson committed £425m. Earlier this year, Mercer said London ranked [...]
Severe delays on District Line between Edgware Road and Wimbledon and Barking to Upminster December 7, 2016 There are severe delays on the District Line this morning, between Edgware Road and Wimbledon and from Barking to Upminster. Services between Earls Court and Ealing Broadway/Richmond are also subject to severe delays. Transport for London said the disruption was caused by a late finish to engineering work. https://twitter.com/districtline/status/806407123986948096 https://twitter.com/districtline/status/806400693833764865 Meanwhile, severe delays persist on the Piccadilly [...]
Threadneedle Bar at the Royal Exchange shares its recipe for the Mediterranean cocktail Amalfi Sour with us December 6, 2016 Now the cold snap has arrived, we’re all eager to reach for a warming drink. But what makes a great winter cocktail? There are many ways to heat up a drink; stew it on the hob like a mulled wine, add a few warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or pour in the booze, that’ll [...]