London

    Joint statement on behalf of John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Cllr Denise Hyland, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich: The Royal Borough of Greenwich and Tower Hamlets Council are disappointed by the latest delay in the Government reaching a decision on the Mayor of London's plans for the much needed Silvertown Tunnel. Both our Councils have always been keen to ensure that the Silvertown Tunnel should not have a detrimental impact on the environment. That is why we welcomed the Mayor of London's revised and improved plans for cleaner, greener public transport options and significant investments in pedestrian and cycling improvements in our boroughs and others. Our residents lives have been blighted by stationary vehicles stuck in queues at the Blackwall Tunnel f...

Tower Hamlets Council today welcomed the increase in the London Living Wage from £9.75 to £10.20 per hour, an increase of 45p an hour. The rate reflects the higher living costs including rents and transport, facing families in London. The council will implement the increase and continue to increase pay levels for the lowest paid staff to ensure that they are paid the nearest scale point above the London Living Wage. A report by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) shows that there are 69 Living Wage employers in Tower Hamlets, ranking the borough 7th in the capital. Supporting Living Wage Week the Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: "I'm proud of the fact Tower Hamlets is an accredited London Living Wage Council, so we pay at least the London Living Wage to our staff. It's only fair that ...

An extra £300k to provide improved and extended youth services in the borough was agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night. The additional funding will mean: • A £60,000 youth innovation fund. • A pilot for a targeted junior youth service for 11 yr olds • Additional funding for the A team arts specialist service Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, said: "Despite increasing financial pressures, we are making sure that we continue to invest in our young people in Tower Hamlets. "Our youth services provide a space for young people to do positive things together, outside of school and family. "We know and value the importance of youth work which is why we have agreed to put this additional money into the overall youth service current budget of nearly 4 million pounds." Members of the You...

    Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Theresa May is earning more than £10,000 a year from renting out a flat in central London. The income from the property, jointly owned with her husband Philip, has been declared in the House of Commons register of members financial interests. The flat has been rented out since August 19, according to parliamentary records. The register states that the property is worth more than £100,000 and brings in a rental income of more than £10,000 a year. The PM's register has previously detailed discount cards for fashion brands Amanda Wakeley, Russell and Bromley, and LK Bennett. MPs are required to declare any financial interest which others might reasonably consider to influence his or her actions or words as a member of Parliament within 28 ...

    Prince Harry has warned of the dangers of social media for young people as he met ambassadors for a mental health charity on a visit to Denmark. Harry spoke to volunteers and service users from the One of Us mental health campaign at a bakery in the Danish capital on Thursday morning. People are spending far too much time online and it's like a mental running machine that they can't get off, he said. Prince Harry. You wouldn't put your body through such a workout. I'm the last person to say ban it but people are suffering from mental fatigue and getting burnt out. We all need to talk to each other more. Harry was given a tour of the bakery kitchen by head chef Claus Borre but declined a Danish pastry on his visit. Speaking afterwards, charity ambassador Troels Torp said Ha...

    Cabinet ministers are among politicians named in a secret WhatsApp group of female staff in which they discuss sex pest MPs to avoid at Westminster, it has been reported. Female employees, including researchers, secretaries and aides, working in Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament reportedly shared horror stories in the group. The women also warned new recruits of MPs with a reputation for sexually inappropriate behaviour. According to The Sun, sources claim the first MP could be exposed by the weekend, with one source saying resignations are anticipated. Allegations include MPs groping staff in lifts, a Cabinet minister groping during drinks parties, senior MPs having sex with staff in Parliamentary offices and bosses referring to female employees as sugar t**s and dem...