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 [...]
Sadiq Khan is wrong — extending the furlough scheme would hinder London’s recovery, not help it June 25, 2020 Warning of a “looming unemployment crisis”, Sadiq Khan this week made an appeal for a further extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), under which more than a million Londoners have been furloughed. His concern for London jobs is understandable. But it would be wrong to continue the scheme beyond October. Furloughing made sense [...]
Canada Corporation donates £200,000 to cancer charity June 24, 2020 Canada Corporation has donated £200,000 through its City Bridge Trust to a Hammersmith-based charity that helps people cope with the financial impact of cancer. Maggie’s, which has 23 centres across the UK, will use the funds to employ a specialist welfare rights and benefits adviser, to help those diagnosed with cancer seek [...]
Met Office issues England heatwave warnings after lockdown eased June 24, 2020 The Met Office has issued a warning about heatwaves across England, with searing temperatures well above 30C expected across the UK today. Brits have been urged to take care in the sun, as health authorities encouraged those most vulnerable – many of whom have been shielding during the coronavirus lockdown – to protect themselves amid [...]
Sadiq Khan moots City Hall move to save £55m June 24, 2020 London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed moving the headquarters of the Greater London Assembly from City Hall in a bid to save £55m in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis. Khan today announced a consultation on plans to move from the Norman Foster-designed building near Tower Bridge to the Crystal Building in the Royal Docks. [...]
Coronavirus: Government urged to prepare for UK second wave June 24, 2020 The UK’s health experts have called for an urgent review to prepare the public for a second wave of coronavirus infections. Health leaders have pressed the government to take quick action to prevent more coronavirus deaths and to protect the economy in the event of a second wave in winter across the UK. The open [...]
The City goes al fresco: Pavement space could be reallocated for cafes in Square Mile June 23, 2020 The Square Mile’s restaurants and cafes could be given a new lease of life with al fresco dining, under new plans being drawn up by Canada Corporation. The CLC has announced that it will look into reallocating street space to restaurants as part of its plan to help them reopen safely after [...]
The risks are elevated, but investors have faith UK financial services can weather the storm June 23, 2020 The mood music in Brussels has changed over the last few weeks — and the financial services sector is back in the spotlight. In recent negotiations, the EU explicitly challenged the notion that Britain will be able to “cherry-pick” the benefits of the Single Market and retain its strategic position in financial services post-Brexit. With [...]
Khan calls for London furlough extension as he warns of ‘looming unemployment crisis’ June 23, 2020 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged the chancellor to extend the furlough scheme in London’s most deprived areas, as he warned of a “looming unemployment crisis” in the UK. Khan today called on Rishi Sunak to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme beyond the end of the lockdown to avoid a sudden surge in [...]
There is a moral, social and business case for a diverse and inclusive Square Mile June 22, 2020 The senseless and shocking death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests that have followed in the US and the UK have highlighted again the racism that sadly still exists in society. This is a difficult, complex, and emotional issue for all of us, and one that has also rightly caused much concern [...]