Archive for category: News

  • Protesters mount last ditch defense of NHS

    This afternoon protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Health on Whitehall to mount a last ditch defense of the National Health Service. There was as much anger directed at the Liberal Democrats as the Conservatives in government. One protester even described the proposed reforms as supported by the “Liberal Democrat […]

     
  • Council high pay culture includes “tax avoidance scheme”

    It’s long been acknowledged that council big wigs are taking home astronomical sums despite the fact that the public often have no idea what they do. However one Labour MP, Margaret Hodge, has denounced the practice of using external companies to pay top council officials as a “tax avoidance scheme, which is […]

     
  • Taxi drivers win victory over pedicabs

    Taxi drivers are celebrating today having won a victory over “pedicabs”, preventig a new bill coming through Parliament from allowing them to use taxi rank spaces alongside their black cab brethren. The London Local Authorities Bill does a number of things including allowing local authorities to hold premises responsible for litter […]

     
  • Climate activists occupy Waitrose

    Tonight, Tuesday, eco-activists Climate Rush staged a sit-in demonstration at Waitrose, Russell Square, in protest against its new partnership with oil company Shell. Activists spoke to Waitrose shoppers, read out an ‘intervention’ letter to the shop’s manager and linked arms chanting ‘don’t break us up, break up with Shell’. The […]

     
  • Ken pledges London EMA: but does it stack up?

    Ken Livingstone has pledged that if elected he will re-instate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for London’s young people. Speaking at Westminster College, Labour’s Mayoral candidate declared that he would introduce a 30 pounds a week benefit to all 16-19 year old Londoners in full-time education. Certainly when the national government abolished […]

     
  • Campaigners call to “Make Archway Livable” and ditch the roundabout

    A coalition of organisations have joined together to call on all Mayoral candidates to commit to ditch the Archway roundabout if elected in May. Better Archway Forum and Archway residents, along with Islington Living Streets and Islington Cyclists Action Group took to the streets tonight on bikes and on foot to […]

     
  • Taking the cycling message direct to parliament with Climate Rush

    Natalie Bennett takes the battle direct to the politicians.   A tunnel leading away from Westminster Tube station. 8am. February. Not possibly the place you’d choose to be – but the cause was good, and so it felt was the effects. Green Party London mayoral candidate, Jenny Jones; Susanna Rustin, […]

     
  • Union strike ballot over Olympic payments

    Transport union the RMT is to ballot for industrial action on Transport for London (TfL) over a ban on staff leave for the duration of the Olympics and has also declared a formal dispute with London Underground over a failure to reach an agreement on Olympics recognition and reward payments […]

     
  • Night time eviction for St Paul’s Occupy

    Last night the iconic occupation at the steps of St Paul’s cathedral was finally evicted. Along with a second occupation, the “Bank of Ideas”, the small tent city was removed piece by piece. The eviction was largely peaceful but did see protesters create a small fort of palettes (that had […]

     
  • Siobhan Benita launches her Mayoral campaign

    Last night at the Ernst and Young offices, opposite the London Assembly building, independent Mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita launched her bid to become Mayor of this city. An eclectic group of people from supporters to family, to journalists to simple well wishers came to Siobhan’s “campaign reception” involving wine, very nice food […]