Crossrail funding remains up in the air despite government commitment November 25, 2020 Questions remain over the immediate future of the Crossrail link despite the government committing to the £19bn project’s completion in today’s National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS). “The government is continuing to address capacity issues in the capital, by financing the completion of Crossrail”, the paper read. But negotiations over the funding package for the rail link [...]
À la Parisienne: we need to make space for more al fresco dining – and less cars – in our cities July 21, 2023 Demand for al fresco dining in London is strong, but there's no space for restaurants to spread out on the streets. But we should be following this demand, like they do in France, writes Max Pearson-Smith
Sadiq Khan takes coronavirus pay cut as City Hall faces £500m black hole June 17, 2020 Sadiq Khan will take a 10 per cent pay cut as he warns that City Hall will have to make cuts to public services without central government help. The mayor of London said he would slash his £152,734 salary by almost £15,300, while warning that the Greater London Authority faces a £493m budget black hole [...]
DEBATE: Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? June 25, 2020 Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? Joanne McCartney, statutory deputy mayor of London, says YES. The catastrophic economic consequences of Covid-19 have already hit London’s economy hard. Unemployment is rising. Millions are furloughed. Tax revenues have fallen. London councils face a budget shortfall of £1.3bn this year. Transport for [...]
Atom Bank boss backs London as home for much-anticipated IPO February 15, 2023 The chief of digital lender Atom Bank has publicly thrown his weight behind London as its home for an eventual initial public offering, in a boon to the City as it looks to tempt in more tech listings.
Non-doms are paying record taxes, but Labour will shove them out the door July 12, 2024 The wealthiest non-doms are packing their bags and taking their outsize contributions to the exchequer with them, and that’s just the start of the exodus of the wealthy that will occur if Labour implements its plans, says David Lesperance “London is nice… but it’s not that nice!” These were the words of one of my [...]
Govt boots legal but harmful provision from online safety bill November 28, 2022 The “legal but harmful” provision has been formally scrapped from the online safety bill, in a push to water down moderation and put greater focus on free speech protection. The provision, which would have allowed tech firms to remove content that wasn’t actually illegal, sparked controversy across free speech advocates raising concerns around overcensorship. However, [...]
The return of Virgin Trains: Can Richard Branson give Avanti a good kicking? May 23, 2024 Could Richard Branson's return to the West Coast Main Line finally get Avanti West Coast on the right track?
As we redefine levelling up, don’t ignore the poverty in London for political points September 15, 2022 London is also home to some of the most deprived areas in the country. There are pockets of poverty in practically every borough of London, including some of the most affluent.
Sadiq Khan forced to cut budget by £38m after Covid leaves black hole November 16, 2020 Sadiq Khan has revised the Greater London Authority’s budget downward by £38m after a drop in revenue due to the Covid crisis. A statement from City Hall said the drop in spending is “because of a forecast unprecedented loss of business rates and council tax income, caused by Covid-19, and the government’s refusal to adequately fund local and [...]