Theresa May’s industrial strategy isn’t about picking winners – but taking control of Britain’s economic destiny post-Brexit November 1, 2016 Purists likely shuddered at Theresa May’s commitment to a “proper, modern industrial strategy” as she reshaped the Business Department in July. Three decades of free market orthodoxy have convinced many business folk that a fully-fledged plan for industry represents a throwback to the 1970s, a decade when sickly British Leyland came to symbolise all that [...]
RMT rally outside parliament against guard-less trains on Southern Rail services November 1, 2016 A national protest against Southern Rail's plans to cut guards on trains took place in London this afternoon, as conductors are set to strike again later this week. Up to 200 opponents of the rail firm's plans organised in Old Palace Yard before making their way to a committee room in parliament. Speakers were due to [...]
Heathrow’s already started spending on its third runway October 31, 2016 The government's backing of Heathrow airport expansion has triggered £50m of supply chain investment. Suffice to say the airport was ready and raring to go ahead of the government's decision to green light its expansion last week. Heathrow said the government's backing meant that £50m will be invested before the end of next year, creating 2,700 new British [...]
London must shake off its complacency over housing and infrastructure if it’s to thrive post-Brexit October 31, 2016 Rarely has a ranking of the world’s greatest cities been released in the past few years without London at its top, or very near it. PwC recently named the capital the world’s best city for opportunity, praising its economic clout, its attractiveness to foreign direct investment, its highly skilled workforce, and its status as a [...]
Home is where the smart is: City A.M. meets Krystian Zajac October 31, 2016 When I first came to the UK, I was living in a tiny flat with five other people. I was educated, but washing dishes for a living. I did not care, the money was still better than what I got in Poland,” says Krystian Zajac, founder of Andrew Lucas. As far as rags to riches [...]
Network Rail may have to drawdown on mammoth government funding facility October 30, 2016 After shelling out millions in compensation to Britain's train companies, Network Rail is facing the embarrassing prospect of asking for a hand out from the government. Last year, Network Rail drew down £7.5bn of borrowing from a department of transport (DfT) facility, more than doubling the amount it owes Chris Grayling's department, from £6.4bn to £14bn. [...]
Focus On Bermondsey: River views, great food, warehouse conversions – what more could you want in SE1? October 28, 2016 This ancient town, first mentioned in the Domesday Book as Bermundesy, has had a colourful existence on the south bank of the river Thames. For centuries condemned as a slum, this centrally located area in Zone One has blossomed in the last ten years into one of the most artistic – not to mention delicious [...]
London security: Six things Sadiq Khan is considering to tackle terrorism in the capital October 28, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan is considering a range of new ways in which to tackle potential terror attacks in the capital, after the publication of a new report on the city's preparedness to deal with threats. The report comes a week after a potential attack was thwarted when a suspicious package was found on a Tube train [...]
All of London’s black cabs will take contactless payments from Halloween October 28, 2016 Are we about to witness the death of cash? That may be slightly premature, but London's black cabs have announced a big step forward and it means passengers won't be hindered by only having cards on them. Passengers will be able to pay for any journey using solely credit and debit cards, including contactless payments [...]
Embrace road pricing to build the infrastructure we actually need without government borrowing October 27, 2016 It is odds on that Philip Hammond will announce in the Autumn Statement that government spending constraints will be relaxed to facilitate investment in infrastructure. We will be told that the government should borrow and invest more and that this will promote growth in the long run. This argument might have merit if it were not for [...]