Long-term funding deal must come without too many strings attached July 24, 2022 Until we see the details of central government’s (eventual) funding offer to Transport for London, it is dangerous to be too cheered by the arrival of the long-awaited and absurdly delayed proposal. For two years, the Mayor and TfL’s commissioner Andy Byford have been making a clear case for a settlement that helps secure London’s [...]
Final two need to lay out genuine plans for Britain’s economic future July 20, 2022 Congratulations to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the two survivors in the Tory leadership race. When they look at the in-tray should they become Prime Minister, they may wonder if it was worth it. For on day one – whoever takes the gig – they will have to face up to the fact that Britain’s [...]
Heatwave investigation: Is it hot enough to fry an egg off the ground in the City? July 19, 2022 Almost a decade ago, the reflection of the sun off the Walkie Talkie – otherwise known as the Fenchurch Building – was hot enough to melt a Jaguar and fry an egg. That was due to the reflection off the skyscraper, effectively turning the entire building into a magnifying glass. The building was soon fixed, [...]
Heatwave: So, just how hot is it on the Central Line today? July 19, 2022 It’s hot. Really very hot. But how hot it is it on the Central Line? The east-west line is renowned as the capital’s warmest tube line, with a combination of stuffy carriages and lost teenage tourists contributing an overwhelming sense of dread whenever one is forced to use it in the summer. With a heatwave [...]
The City watchdog I chair is becoming more innovative – and assertive July 19, 2022 Richard Lloyd OBE is the interim chair of the Financial Conduct Authority Our annual report shows the Financial Conduct Authority continues to change. Becoming more innovative, assertive and adaptive. We are being tougher on firms that want to operate in the UK to make our markets safer. Last year one in five applicants didn’t [...]
Manufacturers call for EU trading reset to be top of new PM’s to do list July 18, 2022 Industry leaders are urging the new Prime Minister to renew trading relationships with the European Union after new research showed it remained the “dominant” market for manufacturing exports. A study by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO suggested that regions which voted for Brexit have increased their dependence on the EU for manufacturing exports, [...]
Rishi Sunak will put City back at heart of Westminster decision making July 18, 2022 Tomorrow the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver the Mansion House speech, an annual milestone in the calendar of bankers, brokers, financiers and fiscal hawks in which the Chancellor’s vision for our financial services sector is outlined in a room with the UK’s most senior business leaders. Only two weeks ago I was working with [...]
Eurostar sees faster than expected business travel rebound July 18, 2022 Business travellers are once again letting the train take the strain, with Eurostar reporting numbers heading back to pre-pandemic highs. The St. Pancras operator’s newest data suggests business travel has returned to 70 per cent of 2019 levels, with 80 per cent of business passengers expecting to travel more or the same than in 2019, [...]
Ex-No. 10 comms chief Jack Doyle heads for Square Mile PR firm July 18, 2022 A FORMER Daily Mail political journalist who became Boris Johnson’s Director of Communications will take a senior role at City PR firm Headland, City A.M. can reveal. Jack Doyle, who resigned from an embattled Downing Street in February, will become a partner at the Cannon Street outfit. Doyle is the latest in a line of [...]
Walsh: Heads must roll if airport chaos repeated next year July 17, 2022 OUTSPOKEN global aviation boss Willie Walsh laid into Heathrow management again this weekend, warning that any repeat of this year’s chaos should see bosses given the boot. The Hounslow airport has been bruised and battered by passenger demand outstripping expectations, leaving staff shortages, last-minute delays and myriad stories of travel chaos on social media. “If [...]