FACT CHECKER | WITH JAMES WATERSON February 8, 2012 “BORIS Johnson has admitted cutting 1,700 police officers. If I am elected, I will reverse his cuts,” pledges Labour’s mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone. Crime is a key issue for swing voters and Ken’s team hope to portray Boris as weak on policing. But how would Ken fund the extra police? And where does the figure [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING February 7, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES BOMBARDIER JOBS BELIEVED SAFE Workers at the UK’s last train maker are expected to hear this week that their jobs are safe, ending months of uncertainty about the future of the factory in Derby. Its owner, Bombardier, put the future of the site under review in the middle of last year, after the [...]
The EU’s war on planes leaves UK trade grounded February 7, 2012 WE ARE witnessing the opening skirmishes of a trade war between the EU and the rest of the world. This is unnecessary, costly for the European economy, and self-defeating. How did we get here? Under European law, an airline (wherever based) which operates flights that take off or land in the EU must, from next [...]
Boris wants to control every railway in London February 6, 2012 BORIS Johnson has made a bid to control every rail service in London as part of an ambitious plan to simplify ticket structures and improve reliability and service frequency. Johnson said the current “Byzantine fares-setting policy” will be abolished and that his plan could save up to £100m over 20 years by removing the need [...]
Rail bonuses row heats up February 5, 2012 JUSTINE Greening is set to become the first secretary of state for transport to vote at a Network Rail AGM, as the government steps up its opposition to large bonuses proposed for the group’s senior management. Greening said yesterday that she will exercise her right to vote against the bonuses at this week’s meeting, despite [...]
LONDONERS FACE THE BIG FREEZE February 5, 2012 Londoners came out to play yesterday as the capital woke to a blanket of thick snow. Alexandra Park (above) was a popular spot for sledging, while City tourists at Bankside (right) took the opportunity to brave the cold and see London’s famous landmarks covered in white. The biting weather proved testing for Occupy London protesters [...]
Oh I do long to be beside the (British) seaside February 2, 2012 IT’S not the South of France or the Amalfi Coast. But Britain’s seaside has plenty of charm of its own – and not just of the quaint and slightly run-down variety, but of a beautiful, unique and in some cases, highly exclusive type. For instance, Knight Frank recently sold a mansion in south Cornwall to [...]
HOW THE 2012 OLYMPICS WILL AFFECT YOUR COMMUTE January 30, 2012 CITY workers have been warned they will bear the brunt of travel disruption during this summer’s Olympics, with Bank and London Bridge the two worst-affected Tube stations. Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy yesterday urged Square Mile employees and businesses to consider alternative routes or working from home, where practical. Mayor Boris Johnson said extra [...]
HERE’S ONE THEY DIDN’T PREPARE EARLIER: GAMES SHOW STALLS January 30, 2012 BE PREPARED – such an important quality. Especially when you are planning a large-scale sporting event that will bring widespread chaos – sorry, a million extra economy-boosting visitors – to the capital. But panic not, because the organisers of the London Olympics have got it all under control with an £8.8m strategy to help the [...]
Coe confident of delivering Games within 9.3bn budget January 26, 2012 LONDON 2012 chief Sebastian Coe has vowed to ensure the final cost of staging this summer’s Olympics comes in within budget and hoped to offer a fault free service to customers when the final batch of tickets goes on sale in April. A report yesterday, which factored in spending on additional security and transport upgrades, [...]