Rail strikes: Walk out today to cripple services across UK disrupting Eurovision celebrations May 12, 2023 Rail passengers face fresh travel disruption over the next few days because of strikes by train drivers and other workers in long-running disputes over pay. Members of the drivers’ union Aslef will walk out on Friday at more than a dozen train operators, crippling services across the country. Further strikes will be held on May [...]
King and Queen begin procession to Westminster Abbey May 6, 2023 The King and Queen’s procession has left Buckingham Palace to cheers from the waiting crowds in The Mall as the moment of their coronation drew closer. Charles and Camilla waved to thousands of spectators lining the street as leading figures began to join members of the congregation in Westminster Abbey. The list of 2,300 invited [...]
Mick Lynch warns at trade union rally against ‘ultra right’ causing division April 29, 2023 Trade unionist Mick Lynch has told a crowd of workers and activists that the “ultra right” is causing division during the cost-of-living crisis, and it should be resisted. He also praised unions across Northern Ireland that had taken industrial action in recent months, and called for the trade union movement to begin in every town [...]
FA Cup Final hit with fresh rail strike as Manchester fans face disruption getting to London April 27, 2023 The FA Cup Final and Eurovision Song Contest will be disrupted as ASLEF train drivers’ union today announced a series of 24-hour strikes. The 24-hour strikes will take place on Friday 12 May, Wednesday 31 May, and Saturday 3 June, which coincide with FA cup final between Manchester United and City, the last of the [...]
London Marathon: Where are spectators being to told AVOID due to Extinction Rebellion disruption? April 19, 2023 Spectators have been urged to avoid a famous part of the London Marathon route on Sunday amid a planned protest, as a minister said Extinction Rebellion “must be stopped”. The climate group’s scheduled four-day protest in central London from Friday to Monday could see some 30,000 of its supporters in the Westminster area for the [...]
Bennett on Business: The CBI must demonstrate value for money April 19, 2023 When it was founded in 1965, the Confederation of British Industry was intended to disrupt the cosy dialogue between the Wilson Government and the Trades Unions. Back then the Unions called the shots – they were invited into Number 10 to discuss industrial and economic policy, leaving assorted company leaders out in the cold. As [...]
London needs a new financial services story – and it should be crypto, says former chancellor Hammond April 6, 2023 Back in 2017, a word association for then-Chancellor Philip Hammond may have conjured up the likes of staid and steady over innovative and adventurous. Theresa May’s right hand man oversaw a turbulent period for the country but he was the last man in Number 11 to stick to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts. While [...]
The Square Mile and Me: Steffan Williams on the joy of comms, the City’s data revolution and J Sheekey’s charms April 6, 2023 Each week we ask the City’s great and good to dig deep into the memory bank and tell us their favourite tales from the Square Mile. This week it’s Steffan Williams, the well-connected comms supremo and co-founder of Williams Nicolson What was your first job? Graduate Trainee at Charterhouse Bank. The key question at interview [...]
Is the future of banking online only? NatWest and Lloyds to axe 81 branches, taking this year’s total to 213. Here’s a list of closures: March 31, 2023 Two of the UK’s biggest banking groups have announced plans to make big cuts to their branch networks this year, cutting more than 80 sites from around the country. Lloyds Group and NatWest Group have said that the sites in England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man will close between July and November this [...]
The Notebook: Royal Mail, Succession and a fabulous rugby charity March 27, 2023 The Notebook is a home for musings and jottings on the Square Mile and beyond. Today, it’s Andy Silvester’s turn. ANOTHER day, another indication that Royal Mail’s future has got lost in the post. Only a fortnight after being referred to the regulator for “systemic letter delivery failures” – a task you’d probably describe as [...]