Category: London

  • Grant Shapps – 2021 Statement on TFL Funding

    Grant Shapps – 2021 Statement on TFL Funding

    The statement made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, in the House of Commons on 13 December 2021.

    I am updating the House on an interim extension of the current Transport for London funding settlement that was due to expire on 11 December 2021 by one week. This has been agreed by the Mayor of London.

    On 8 December, the Department for Transport received a letter from the Mayor of London that provided further information on how Transport for London and the Mayor will raise new income of between £0.5 billion and £1 billion in line with the commitment agreed under the June 2021 emergency settlement. This response was already three weeks past the original deadline of 12 November. Government require further clarification on these proposals and the Mayor of London has been asked to provide more detailed information by 15 December. Should sufficient information be received, work on an extended further settlement will continue, to support the capital and its transport network. We have thus far supported London with over £4 billion of funding and will make sure services are protected while work on the next settlement is underway.

    Support to Transport for London has always been on the condition that Transport for London reaches financial sustainability as soon as possible and with a target date of April 2023. The condition on identifying new or increased income sources is integral to Transport for London achieving that objective. An extension of the existing funding settlement will provide Transport for London with support until 17 December 2021 by rolling over the provisions of the existing settlement, providing continued support to Transport for London and certainty to Londoners while we work with Transport for London on their funding needs.

    The Government are committed to supporting London and the transport network on which it depends, while balancing that with supporting the national transport network. I will update the House on the details of the next financial settlement after the close of this extension period.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Rewilding London

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Rewilding London

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 13 December 2021.

    The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. In London, we need to take bold action to ensure that we not only halt the decline of biodiversity in our natural environment but pave the way for growth and change. That’s why I’ve announced my new Rewilding Fund, which will help restore the capital’s precious wildlife sites, improve biodiversity and ensure all Londoners have a thriving web of nature on their doorstep. And as part of our Green New Deal, we’re supporting young Londoners to gain the skills required for jobs that help secure a future for London’s natural environment.

    I am proud to have helped London to be recognised as the world’s first National Park City in 2019, and this funding shows my commitment to protecting that status and doing all I can to protect London’s amazing network of green spaces, rivers and natural habitats.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Statement on Stephen Port Inquest

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Statement on Stephen Port Inquest

    The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 11 December 2021.

    My thoughts today are with the families and friends of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor.

    The evidence given to this inquest was deeply upsetting, and the quality of the investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service at the time of the murders has raised a number of concerns. The impact this has had on the victims’ families and friends – on top of the devastating trauma of the murder of their loved ones – is profoundly distressing, and has damaged the confidence of the LGBTQ+ community in the police.

    While the Met Police has apologised for its failings and made changes since these horrific murders were committed, I have asked Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services [HMICFRS] to conduct an independent inspection into the standards of investigations carried out by the Met Police and ensure there is a clear plan of action.

    It is vital that London’s LGBTQ+ community has confidence in our police, and Baroness Casey’s independent review into the Met’s culture and standards, will address the issues of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia, and scrutinise police processes and standards of behaviour amongst officers and staff.

    These young men and their families deserved so much better and I will do everything in my power to make sure that the failings that contributed to the deaths of these innocent young men can never be repeated.

  • Andrew Adonis – 2021 Comments on Funding for TFL

    Andrew Adonis – 2021 Comments on Funding for TFL

    The comments made by Andrew Adonis on Twitter on 11 December 2021.

    London makes huge net contribution to national taxation, billions in excess of the current TfL deficit. So it’s absurd to call it “unfair” to taxpayers to maintain TfL through the pandemic. TfL is economically & socially vital not just for the capital but for the country at large.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on ULEZ Expansion

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on ULEZ Expansion

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 10 December 2021.

    This shows how bold action reaps rewards on air quality and climate change. Just one month after expanding the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, we have seen a significant reduction in the number of older, more polluting vehicles driving in our capital. This is vitally important because toxic air is an invisible killer, responsible for one of the biggest public health crises of our generation.

    In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem. Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air, which is why expanding the ULEZ was a crucial step. The high compliance rate means that millions of Londoners are already benefiting from cleaner air.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Keeping Homes Warm

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Keeping Homes Warm

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 3 December 2021.

    It’s unacceptable that many Londoners can’t afford to keep their homes warm and instead suffer cold, damp conditions throughout winter. We know the economic impacts of the pandemic and rising fuel prices are likely to plunge even more London households into fuel poverty. That’s why from today, I’m reopening my Warmer Homes programme to support vulnerable Londoners this winter.

    I’m pleased that our £51 million commitment will directly help those living in ageing, energy-inefficient homes. This investment will help tackle the climate emergency and support Londoners with the skills they need for jobs in the green economy.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Violence Reduction Unit Funding

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Violence Reduction Unit Funding

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 3 December 2021.

    I am committed to tackling violence in our city and for City Hall to do all we can to help make communities safer. I set up London’s Violence Reduction Unit, England’s first, to lead an approach to tackling violence that is rooted in prevention and early intervention.

    We know that after school is a high-risk period for violence and that’s why it’s crucial that we invest in programmes like Stronger Futures to provide mentoring to support our young people and help them access positive opportunities where they live.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on TFL Funding

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on TFL Funding

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 30 November 2021.

    I agree with the Government and Mayors across the country when they say other regions should have “London-style” transport services.

    But the irony is that a failure to provide enough operational and capital funding for TfL means that it won’t be long before London itself will no longer have “London-style” transport services.

    Instead, we’ll be forced to move into managed decline – leading to run-down services reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s.

    This is no exaggeration.

    If the Government continues to starve TfL of funding, bus services would have to be reduced by almost a fifth, and Tube services would need to be cut by nearly 10 per cent.

    In practice, this could mean more than 100 bus routes being withdrawn and less frequent Tube timetables on a number of lines and branches. TfL is even having to look at potentially closing a whole Tube line to achieve the savings it may need to make.

    And that’s not all.

    There would also be an increase in road and tunnel closures due to a lack of money to maintain London’s key transport infrastructure.

    This combination of deteriorating public transport services and an increase in road and tunnel closures would cause wide-spread disruption and gridlock across the capital.

    Not only would this have a devastating effect on passengers, but it would put the national economic recovery at risk.

    Because there can be no national economic recovery without a London recovery, and there can no London recovery without a properly funded public transport network in the capital.

    On 11 December, the existing temporary funding deal between TfL and the Government comes to an end.

    So it’s time to remove short-term political thinking and to come together to call on the Government to provide the long-term funding TfL urgently needs.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Homelessness in London over Christmas

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Homelessness in London over Christmas

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 1 December 2021.

    Since becoming Mayor, I have made tackling rough sleeping a personal priority. From City Hall we are doing everything we can with the resources at our disposal to keep rough sleepers safe and I’m confident Londoners will once again show their generosity by backing my winter fundraising campaign and helping to support young Londoners who find themselves homeless.

    Even so, the generosity of Londoners alone cannot end rough sleeping in our capital. This time last year we were hailing the remarkable success of the ‘Everyone In’ programme for saving the lives of hundreds of vulnerable Londoners. Despite seeing what can be achieved when we work together, ministers now appear unwilling or unable to confront the appalling reality that hundreds of young Londoners could spend this Christmas sleeping on the streets.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Activating the Severe Weather Emergency Protocols

    Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Activating the Severe Weather Emergency Protocols

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 26 November 2021.

    Once again far too many people are facing the first cold snap of the winter on the streets of the capital, without the safe, secure accommodation that should be the basic right of every Londoner.

    Across London, we will do everything we can to protect rough sleepers in these freezing conditions. I know London’s councils and charities will also be working tirelessly over the weekend to help the most vulnerable amongst us and I thank them for their efforts.