Does size matter? English devolution may not lead to productivity gains, admits Treasury secretary Lord Jim O’Neill July 21, 2015 One of George Osborne's most senior Treasury colleagues has admitted that when it comes to solving the productivity puzzle, English devolution is little more than a punt. Commercial secretary to the Treasury Jim O'Neill, who heads up the City Growth Commission, has been tasked with replicating London's economic success in other cities throughout the UK. The group [...]
Travel chaos on South West Trains expected to continue until 3.30pm after person hit by train near Raynes Park July 21, 2015 Update: The man who was hit by a train at Raynes Park station, near Wimbledon, has been pronounced dead at the scene. British Transport Police attended the scene alongside London Ambulance Service at around 6:45am this morning. Officers are now trying to establish the man's identity. Raynes Park has reopened but South West [...]
TfL Tube strike: Talks over Night Tube action hit the buffers after RMT complains of serious breaches of safety July 20, 2015 Crunch talks between trade unions and London Underground have ground to a halt, with just two weeks left to avert a second mass walk-out of the summer. Unions had been due to resume talks this morning, yet the RMT shelved the negotiations after complaining of “serious breaches of safety protocols” on the Tube over [...]
From Sir Mike Rake, John Dixon and Martin Wheatley’s shock departures to Apple Pay: Here’s what got us talking this week July 17, 2015 There was some golf. There was cheese (with our burgers) in London. And throughout the country's railway stations, there was a quiz that got us scratching our heads. Here's what got us talking this week 1. The City was overrun with ejecting chairs Fresh from Antony Jenkins' sacking last week, this week it was the [...]
English devolution is go: Cornwall is first county to receive powers over employment, transport, business support, energy, health and social care July 17, 2015 Put down your pasty. Cornwall has become the first UK county to gain historic new powers under the government's push to give more power to local authorities. The county will now have more control over a host of key areas including employment and skills, transport, business support, energy, health and social care, public estate and [...]
Why London must retain its lead as the world’s number one retail destination July 16, 2015 One thing underpins Britain’s economic recovery more than anything else: the resilience and potential of London’s economy. While the capital’s financial sector was first to feel the pain nearly a decade ago, London has also led the UK’s economic fightback – attracting global investment, growing employment and pushing up living standards. We are the world’s [...]
Apple Pay: How does it work and is it any quicker? A guide for the new contactless payment system July 15, 2015 Apple Pay has finally arrived in the UK. Well, sort of. If you have the right iPhone and the right bank and you shop in the right place and if the sun is shining at just the right angle – then you can use Apple Pay (okay, we made the bit about the sun up). [...]
5 the war on cash July 15, 2015 Transport With apps like Uber, cashless buses and contactless payments on the Tube, public transport is practically a note-free zone already. The London Underground has had NFC technology since the introduction of the Oyster card, which means it’s Apple Pay ready. Retail Many high street retailers have jumped onto the contactless bandwagon in recent years, [...]
TfL Tube strike: TSSA joins RMT, Aslef and Unite in striking on 5 August over Night Tube dispute after talks collapse today July 15, 2015 A fourth union has said it will join its sister organisations in striking after talks over the increasingly controversial Night Tube collapsed today. Workers for TSSA, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, will walk out on 5 August along with RMT, Aslef and Unite the the union. TSSA's general secretary Manuel Cortes accused LU [...]
New TfL Tube strike chaos looms: Unions on collision course with Tories as government set to unveil tough curbs July 14, 2015 Unions preparing for battle with the government over new anti-strike rules have ratcheted up the heat with the threat of another Tube strike. Ahead of the introduction today of the Trade Union Bill – aimed at severely limiting strike action – the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) yesterday said it would join the [...]