Archive for category: News

  • Londoners favour 20 mph

    Last week’s ComRes polling (pdf) of Londoners understandably focused on what the outcome of the 2012 Mayoral election might be (hang your heads in shame outer London!). However, there were other aspects to that polling that are well worth a look. In particular page 13 on 20 mph speed limits is […]

     
  • London marches to protect pensions: the homemade banners

    Wednesday’s march to defend public sector pensions was brimming with confidence, as trade union members and their supporters took on the government’s austerity agenda direct. Big Smoke was out taking pictures of the various banners and home-made placards we saw. This is a small sample for your delectation, click to […]

     
  • Pensions strike brings out two million

    Tens of thousands marched through the capital today as around two million public sector workers took strike action today. This is the largest industrial action in this country for decades and comes off the back of months of discontent from unions. The strikes are specifically about pensions but many trade […]

     
  • Strike! Wednesday’s events around London

    Wednesday sees the largest UK-wide strike for decades, if not ever. If you’re on strike best of luck to you – if you aren’t here’s a list of things you can do around London on the day to show your support. There are also hundreds of picket lines, far too […]

     
  • Islington Pub bars Irish Travellers

    The Irish Times reports that the Coronet pub on Holloway Road turned away drinkers on Thursday simply for being Irish Travellers. Jim Jepps reports. The Wetherspoons Pub was the venue of choice for the group who had attended an Irish Travellers’ Movement meeting a few doors away. Even when it […]

     
  • Strikes at the National Gallery?

    There has been a long running dispute between ‘warders’ and the National Gallery over cuts in security. Way back in July the PCS union complained that cuts in the number of security guards meant that priceless works of art, like those in the forthcoming Da Vinci exhibition, are at risk. Management […]

     
  • Mayor orders safety review of HGVs

    The BBC reports the very welcome news that the Mayor has ordered a safety review of HGVs in London. Heavy vehicles are responsible for a disproportionate number of cyclist deaths and campaigners have argued for reform of road layouts and vehicle design that should include protection bars or “side skirts” that prevent […]

     
  • Do we need a new airport?

    In today’s Evening Standard Mayor Boris Johnson has taken time out of his busy schedule to argue for a new airport for London. Jim Jepps  takes a look. As you might expect Johnson putsbig business as his number one priority arguing “Foreign-owned companies are estimated to contribute 42 per cent […]

     
  • Firefighters vote for industrial action as Mayor shifts away funding

    London firefighters have voted by an overwhelming margin for industrial action. Jim Jepps reports. Of almost 3,000 Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members who voted over 90% called for action which will now take place from Friday 25th November. the action includes a continuous ban on over-time, including work hat would normally be […]

     
  • Duggan was unarmed when killed

    It has been revealed that Mark Duggan, the Tottenham man shot and killed by police officers in August, was not holding a gun when he was fatally shot – a fact  which goes directly against the initial police version of events who claimed to be returning fire. Duggan’s killing indirectly […]