It’s time for a London mayor who wants the job – Stephen Greenhalgh August 6, 2015 In September 1993, I was in a bar in New York, a self-styled “British Alehouse” on the Upper East Side. There was a man speaking: “I want to be the next mayor of New York!” he boomed. That man’s name? Rudy Giuliani. And the most striking thing was how much thought he had given – [...]
London house prices: There’s a bold solution to the housing crisis – if councils get out of the way August 6, 2015 Tessa Jowell is the latest mayoral candidate to pledge to build more homes to tackle London’s housing crisis, promising at least 50,000 new properties would be built each year under her watch. The government has also outlined plans for 200,000 new starter homes to be constructed, many also earmarked for the capital. But history tells [...]
“Wanton vandal” developers must rebuild demolished Carlton Tavern pub brick by brick May 6, 2015 A historic west London pub which was demolished by over-zealous developers without permission will have to be painstakingly rebuilt brick by brick after London planners slammed their "flagrant disregard" of planning rules. Westminster council called the developers "wanton architectural vandals" and ruled they must rebuild the historic Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale within 18 months [...]
Heavyweight Tory Stephen Greenhalgh explains why he should be London’s next mayor July 23, 2015 You know what, Chris?” he bellows in the middle of a crowded Westminster cafe, prodding at my arm. “You know what? “I’m the only candidate who has spent over a decade in the engine room of London government.” Conservative Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor for policing and crime, is certainly more bolshie blue than [...]
The politicians brought down by Twitter: Emily Thornberry’s Rochester nightmare, Diane Abbott’s divide and rule and Miliband’s Bob Holness disaster November 21, 2014 After a storm on Twitter which was then picked up by the mainstream press, Islington MP Emily Thornberry resigned from the shadow cabinet last night. While pounding the pavements of Rochester and Strood, the Labour MP tweeted a picture of a white van parked in the driveway of a house displaying several England flags with the [...]
A booming West End will be fatally undermined unless we pedestrianise Oxford Street June 21, 2015 Oxford Street needs to be pedestrianised. There is a growing consensus about this among traders, transport operators, and local councils. The question is when and how. The “when” is easiest to answer. The new east-west Crossrail line starts operating through Central London in four years’ time. It will generate a new surge of people coming [...]
Airbnb is about to muscle in on the professional property management business May 19, 2015 Flat rental site Airbnb may have built its reputation on the sharing economy – but with a valuation of about $20bn, it was only a matter of time before it got into the professional property management business. Read more: Escape it all – the 21 most deliciously remote Airbnb rentals Now, it's been reported the [...]
Toffs spot winners at Goffs June 16, 2015 HRH PRINCESS Michael of Kent went racehorse shopping at the lavish Goff’s thoroughbred auction on Monday evening. Politicians, trainers and royals gathered from all over the world to bid against each other and bag a bay to run at Ascot. More than 50 horses were trotted out at Kensington Palace, 23 of which are due [...]
Busk in London: Mayor Boris Johnson unveils plans to make London “busking capital of the world” – including National Busking Day March 23, 2015 Ditch the headphones and start tuning into the real-live music on London's streets. The capital is about to become a whole lot more musical. Mayor Boris Johnson has launched a new scheme to make it easier for people to busk in the capital alongside a busking “code of conduct”. The Busk in London scheme, [...]
Don’t get suckered by the anti-Europeans: The EU is already being reformed April 16, 2015 As the election nears, policy promises are coming thick and fast: “the NHS, schools, the economy and jobs will be safe in our hands and ruined in theirs” – or words to that effect. Likewise, when it comes to Europe, the differences between parties appear stark. But they all make one point in different ways: [...]