CitySprint cycle courier wins workers’ rights in a key gig economy ruling January 7, 2017 A courier for same-day delivery firm CitySprint has won the rights to paid holidays and minimum pay in a landmark ruling by the central London employment tribunal. CitySprint claimed its couriers were not employed but were independent freelancers, meaning they aren't covered by statutory protections like holiday pay. But the tribunal ruled Margaret Dewhurst was not self-employed and is therefore [...]
One of the Tory’s leading donors said he’ll cut his funds if we lose access to the European single market January 7, 2017 A leading donor to the Conservative Party said he'll cut his funding if the government takes Britain out of the European single market. Andrew Cook, chairman of engineering firm William Cook (and staunch Remainer), has said he couldn't support the party if it risked losing jobs in the UK by leaving the single market, Reuters reported. He has donated more than [...]
The British Red Cross has stepped in to support the NHS, calling it a “humanitarian crisis” January 7, 2017 NHS hospitals face a "humanitarian crisis" as A&E departments experience one of their busiest weeks ever, The British Red Cross has said. The charity has called on the government to invest more in health and social care as its volunteers and staff have been required to help patients get home from hospital. British Red Cross chief executive Mike Adamson said: "The [...]
Costs for repairing potholes are shooting up, and councils have warned they can’t afford to fix them January 7, 2017 This year could be the "tipping point" for potholes, councils warn, as a new analysis suggests the repair bill could reach £14bn within two years. The cost of repairing potholes has been steadily growing as recent harsh winters ravage roads and decades of government underfunding leave councils barely able to cope, according to the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents [...]
Final talks to stop Monday’s massive Tube strike are being held today January 7, 2017 A last-ditch attempt to put off a massive 24-hour Tube strike by London Underground workers is taking place today. After talks between the unions and Transport for London (TfL) to avert the strike fell apart yesterday, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association TSSA union said more talks would be held today, the Press Association reported. The strike, which will affect most London Underground [...]
A new US intelligence report says Russia helped Trump win the US election, but gives little evidence of how January 7, 2017 The Russian government helped Donald Trump win the US election by discrediting his rival Hillary Clinton, US intelligence agencies said in a report released last night. "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election," the report said. "We further assess Putin and the Russian government developed [...]
Fabric reopens tonight with a mystery lineup and tougher security measures January 6, 2017 After four months of barred doors, Fabric nightclub is set to reopen tonight with stricter anti-drugs and security rules. After several drug-related deaths, the iconic London club was shut down by Islington Council in September. However, in November, after fervent campaigning, the nightclub was reopened under new measures. Those measures include banning clubbers under 19 years old [...]
British Airways reassures travellers ahead of next week’s strike but says some Heathrow flights will be affected January 6, 2017 British Airways (BA) has assured customers proposed strike action by the Unite union will have little effect on flights. BA cabin crew announced Tuesday they would hold a 48-hour strike next week due to an ongoing dispute over "poverty pay" with the airline. The strike dates are set for January 10 and 11. After confirming flights from London [...]
A woman has said she just realised £7m in gold was missing from a safety deposit box involved in the Hatton Garden heist January 6, 2017 A woman has come forward to police saying she just realised £7m of her gold is missing from a safety deposit box involved in the Hatton Garden heist more than a year ago. Sky News reported the claim today, which would take the total stolen in the heist to around £21m. Police said in June they [...]
The cost of New Year’s resolutions: Here’s how much you’ll spend on fancy diets and gym clothes January 6, 2017 After Public Health England warned Londoners they drink too much and don't exercise enough last month, many of us took the hint and set a New Year's resolution to get fit. In fact, the most popular resolution set in 2017 was to achieve a healthier lifestyle with a third of Brits setting goals to exercise more and [...]
