Trade Union Bill explained: Will it prevent strikes? What does it mean for employers? Here’s everything you need to know November 9, 2015 Some have called it an "attack on workers' rights", others have defended the plans – either way, the government's proposals to impose a minimum turnout of 50 per cent has left employers scratching their heads. Here's everything you need to know about the Trade Union Bill. Explain the new threshold rules Under the existing rules, [...]
Chancellor George Osborne will wield the axe in Whitehall and make massive cuts in four departments November 9, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne will today pre-empt his upcoming comprehensive spending review (CSR) by revealing massive cuts to four government departments. The department for transport, department for local government and communities, the department for environment, food and rural affairs and the Treasury will all come under the axe, the chancellor will announce, saying he has agreed “provisional settlements” with the [...]
How the Northern Powerhouse could boost SMEs – Investec Comment November 8, 2015 Critics of the chancellor's ambition to create a Northern Powerhouse often dismiss the idea as a gimmick. The challenge of rebalancing the UK economy is certainly immense. A recent report by the Centre of Cities showed that gross value added per worker in 2013 in the areas covered by the Northern Powerhouse was 13 per [...]
Sharm el-Sheikh travel disruption update: Thomas Cook will resume flights to and from Egyptian resort as government gives go-ahead for repatriation flights to begin November 5, 2015 Thousands of Britons have been stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh following the government's decision to ground flights to and from the popular Egyptian resort, over fears that the recent Sinai plane crash was caused by a bomb. However, following talks between Prime Minister David Cameron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, "the government has decided, in [...]
River Cycleway Consortium has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its Thames floating cycle path plan November 5, 2015 River Cycleway Consortium, the company behind the proposed Thames Deckway, a floating cycle and pedestrian pathway along the capital's main river, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The group, which is made up of Arup engineers and Hugh Broughton Architects and advised by Kemp Little, is aiming to raise £175,000 to carry out a [...]
Bank station is going to be getting a major overhaul (but there’ll be some travel headaches along the way) November 5, 2015 Transport for London has some good news and bad news for commuters going through Bank Tube station. The good news is that the major interchange is about to get a major facelift that TfL says will "significantly reduce congestion", particularly for Waterloo & City Line users, where two new lifts, four escalators and a new [...]
Mapped: The Crossrail effect – from Tottenham Hale to New Southgate, how London’s largest infrastructure project has affected house prices November 4, 2015 After years of talking about it, Transport for London finally began its consultation on Crossrail 2 last week, proposing a new route which will run from Cheshunt to Epsom, Chessington and Shepperton. But while the consultation has just begun, the second branch of Crossrail may have already began taking an effect on house prices [...]
Black Cabs, Underground posters and the Tube map top the list of London’s most iconic transport designs November 4, 2015 Life-long Londoner, city adoptee or just passing through: whatever your relationship with the British capital, it conjures up a strong set of images. Not least when it comes to our transport. Love it or loathe it (I think we know which one) our daily commute gets imprinted on our brain, and with it the iconic designs [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Labour candidate Sadiq Khan says he would reconsider City Airport November 4, 2015 Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has suggested that he would reverse Boris Johnson’s decision to block expansion at London City Airport, saying today that as mayor he would “reconsider” plans to enlarge the East London airport. Khan, a former transport minister, said that if elected he would “look again” at the decision “in detail”. “City [...]
Why the misguided war on alcohol is bad news for London November 3, 2015 We are at a crossroads. With the Night Tube held up in negotiations, a new report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) – which claims that alcohol is placing an unnecessary strain on emergency services – is now being exploited by those who want to see a reduction in pub, bar and club licensing [...]