Brexit is a chance for London to renew itself once again as a great global city September 5, 2016 London is a phoenix-like city. It has reinvented itself time and again, rising from the Great Fire, the Plague and the Blitz. Compared to those, Brexit is a mild cold. The capital now needs to renew itself once again. It produces 22 per cent of the UK’s GDP and 30 per cent of its tax [...]
The London option: Britain’s EU deal must guarantee our city’s business pre-eminence September 5, 2016 In my last piece for City A.M., just 10 days after the referendum, I said that, by working together, we can keep London open for business and leading in the world. Over the past nine weeks, I’ve been meeting as many business leaders as possible, across all sectors, from startups to global corporations. Sadiq Khan and I [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announces new bus ‘Hopper’ ticket will launch next Monday 12 September September 5, 2016 London commuters will get more bang for their bus tickets from next Monday onwards, when the new 'hopper' bus fare system is launched. From Monday 12 September, passengers will be able to change onto another bus or tram for free within one hour of touching in at the start of their journey. It will be automatically given [...]
Four improvements which need to happen before Oxford Street can be pedestrianised September 5, 2016 Sadiq Khan is under pressure to remove buses from Oxford Street to clear the way for happy shoppers – but before Oxford Street is pedestrianised there are a lot more changes the London Assembly have in mind. The London Assembly's Transport Committee wrote to Sadiq Khan today, suggesting ways to help the pedestrianisation of the street happen. Here are [...]
Marks & Spencer is in a pay row with staff and could be axing 500 jobs. Is it time to split the retailer in two? September 5, 2016 Marks & Spencer’s famous adverts (“These are not just potatoes, these are pan-shaken ready-to-roast extra-crispy King Edward potatoes…”) may have stayed ripe for mockery for over a decade, but between our guffaws lies a reluctant acceptance that the branding is absolutely spot on. M&S food halls have been a roaring success, especially among the millions of Brits [...]
Peter Stringfellow on closing Angels, Theresa May, virtual reality clubs and setting up a lingerie range September 5, 2016 The floor of Peter Stringfellow’s office at Angels, his legendary Soho club, was strewn with packing boxes last week. In case anyone imagined his office to be an extension of the club – all leopard print, velvet and disco balls – it isn’t. It’s just a normal office. I visited him on Thursday; on Saturday, [...]
The City must build on its relationship with China to remain the world’s financial centre September 5, 2016 Each week seems to bring another vision of how our post-Brexit relationship with Europe might look. Is the EEA an option? What has to be done in order to secure access to the Single Market? As lord mayor of London, it is my responsibility to work with the government and other key institutions to ensure [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan must axe “empty” Oxford Street buses to push ahead with pedestrianisation September 5, 2016 Plans to ban vehicles from Oxford Street must begin with a dramatic reduction in “empty” bus services through the crowded area, according to the London Assemby's transport committee. London mayor Sadiq Khan has made pedestrianisation of Oxford Street a key part of his mayoralty, and his hoping to complete the project by 2020. However, critics [...]
Watch live: Burning of a huge sculpture of London’s skyline to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London September 4, 2016 This week marks the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London – and to commemorate, the capital is burning a gigantic sculpture of 17th century London on the Thames. Because why not? The 120m sculpture, called London 1666, will be set alight this evening. And while the public will be able to watch as [...]
The Great Fire of London made the city an insurance hub – here’s what we need to do to maintain that status September 2, 2016 This week we’re marking the anniversary of one of London’s defining events: the Great Fire of London, which ravaged the city at the start of September 1666. It was started by nothing more than a fire from an overheated oven at a baker’s shop near London Bridge. The damage was immense. The Association of British [...]