BREXIT BLUES

Today’s Spring Statement  from the Chancellor offered only two items of particular interest to London. Of course, meanwhile, most of the country’s time and energy is still being sapped by ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

City Hall tied up its 2019/20 Budget last week and London’s 33 Town Halls are now in the process in finalising theirs. It would appear all are raising council tax rates to help fund core services, but will it be enough?

THE NUMBERS AREN'T GREAT

This week in LDN, the numbers aren’t looking too good for the Labour Party, for housing starts, for house prices or for London’s local authorities. We look at some of the stats in detail below, particularly assessing housing supply and the likely outcome of this year’s Spending Review.

LONDON SHRUGS, CARRIES ON

The defection of eight Labour MPs and three Tories to a new Independent Group has sent tremors through an already unsteady House of Commons. But beyond the Palace of Westminster, it’s business as usual.

THE ELUSIVE SADIQ

In an interview with the Estates Gazette this week, the Mayor offered assurances that his housing and planning policy is 'not a battle against developers'. But his apparent – and enduring – reluctance to actively engage with the sector suggests otherwise.

RICH MIX

The approval of plans for the Olympia London exhibition centre’s redevelopment is our lead story this week, among other planning and development news. Beyond bricks and mortar, we cover the latest from TfL, the London Assembly, the Communities Secretary, and several Town Halls across the capital. 

SADIQ'S SURPRISE

Yesterday evening, the Mayor unexpectedly decided to reject a planning application, against his officers’ recommendation and despite changes to the scheme by the developer.

KHAN HE DO IT?

It’s been a busy week for the Greater London Authority (GLA), as the London Plan’s Examination in Public (EiP) gathers steam and the Mayor has made a number of significant planning decisions.

LONDON ENDURES

Theresa May’s administration has suffered an almighty blow in Parliament and is bracing for a vote of no confidence later this evening. All bar eight of the capital’s 73 MPs voted to reject the Prime Minister’s deal, including 13 of the capital’s 21 Tories; Remainers such as former misters Jo Johnson and Justine Greening joined arch-Leavers including Zac Goldsmith and Theresa Villiers to condemn the Government to a huge defeat.

OFF TO A ROCKY START...

...is the unavoidable impression emerging from 2019’s first couple of weeks, with MPs rebelling against the government only days before the ‘meaningful vote’ on Brexit and with the capital’s main business associations expressing substantial concerns about the plans for and outcomes of secession from the EU.

BAH HUMBUG TO BREXIT

All EU secession pains and worries aside – and just a week shy of Christmas – politics and business in London are still rattling on as briskly as ever.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING THIS WEEK

While everything is overshadowed by the delayed Brexit deal vote and a vote of no confidence of Theresa May this evening, much is also afoot in London.