Mayor slams Government over plans to scrap Public Health England during a pandemic
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has branded the Government’s decision to scrap Public Health England (PHE) during the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘irresponsible and astonishing’. The Government’s plans, first announced in a Sunday newspaper, will see the ex-boss of the TalkTalk mobile phone company Dido Harding take control of a new agency called the ‘National Institute […]
Time running out for private renters as eviction ban ends this week and Universal Credit claims soar
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has made a last-ditch appeal to the Government to bring in additional protections for private renters before the eviction ban is lifted at the end of this week (23rd August). Although the Scottish and Welsh governments have moved to increase protections for private renters, there have been no […]
Urgent appeal launched as financial impact of Covid hits Tower Hamlets Council
Tower Hamlets Labour has today launched an urgent appeal calling on the Government to plug the gap in Tower Hamlets Council’s finances caused by Covid-19, with the local authority facing a financial black hole of £30m. Last week the council set out the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, highlighting that figures from the first […]
Mayor calls for government to step in to ‘save our sports’
Mayor John Biggs has written to the Prime Minister calling for the government to step in to ‘save our sports’ and provide a financial lifeline for council gyms and leisure centres. During the lockdown gyms and leisure facilities, which are operated in Tower Hamlets by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) under the ‘Better’ brand, were closed […]
Mayor calls on Housing Secretary to protect renters as cost of Covid hits
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has called on the Housing Secretary to introduce tougher protections for private renters as the economic impact of coronavirus bites. Brand new figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week revealed that 649,000 people left company payrolls between March and June this year, and this […]
Chancellor’s summer statement fails to deliver for Tower Hamlets
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has said that the Chancellor’s summer statement failed to deliver for Tower Hamlets, and warns that London faces a looming jobs crisis as the furlough scheme unwinds. Stats compiled by the Labour Party reveal that across London: 1,074,900 number of people are furloughed, equivalent to around 22% of the workforce […]
Mayor welcomes funding boost for Places of Worship Protective Security Fund
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has welcomed the increased funding for the Places of Worship Protective Security Fund, with £3.2m now available. The fund, which allows places of worship to apply for funding to improve physical security such as gates, locks, alarms and CCTV to deter and prevent hate crime attacks, is open for applications […]
Response to Baroness Lawrence’s review into impact of Covid on BAME communities
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has responded to the enquiry led by Baroness Doreen Lawrence examining the impact of Coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. The enquiry, launched by Sir Keir Starmer in April, seeks to take evidence from the public, community groups, experts and those affected on why coronavirus is disproportionately […]
Government must restore free travel for U18s and elderly Londoners
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has urged the Government to restore free travel for under-18s in London, and to remove the suspension of free travel at peak times for Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60-plus Oyster card holders. The suspension of free travel for the over-60s took effect last week, starting on Monday […]
Petition urges Government to rethink Free School Meal decision
Tower Hamlets Labour has launched a petition calling on the Government to ensure that the Free School Meal voucher scheme can continue over the summer holidays. The Government recently announced the scheme – which is worth £15 per week for each eligible child and was launched in March as part of the coronavirus response to […]
