Nearly half of eligible people in Tower Hamlets are missing out on free food vouchers
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has joined calls from charities and health groups warning that low-income women and children in over 130,000 households are missing out on £28.6m of free fruit, vegetables and milk due to poor promotion of the Healthy Start voucher scheme nationwide. Healthy Start vouchers help young and low-income pregnant […]
Free TV licences for pensioners to be scrapped
Commenting on the BBC’s announcement that free TV licences for up to 3.7m pensioners are being scrapped: Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “It’s very disappointing that the BBC has decided to scrap free TV licences for older people, especially given that this goes against a Conservative manifesto pledge. This is a cut to […]
Councils are being hampered as we try to tackle the housing crisis
From Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs Every week at my advice surgery I see the human cost of the housing crisis with overcrowded families in unsuitable accommodation. We use the term housing crisis and it really is a crisis. The government holds back what we can do as a local authority for residents who […]
75th anniversary of D-Day
Speaking on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “Today marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. We honour the incredible bravery of the allied soldiers who fought and died on the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago in order to liberate Europe. We will remember them.”|Speaking […]
Mayor Biggs calls for ban on diesel cars to be brought forward
Ban on diesel cars should be brought forward & a national diesel scrappage scheme should be introduced The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has today written to the Prime Minister to call for the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars to be brought forward to 2030. The ban is currently […]
Eid Mubarak!
Message from Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs As we mark Eid ul-Fitr, I send my warm wishes to all residents, particularly to Muslims in Tower Hamlets. We celebrate this day which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims have been fasting. It is a day for everyone to come together […]
Trump’s UK visit: statement from Mayor Biggs
Commenting on US President Trump’s state visit to the UK, Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “Donald Trump has shown himself to be utterly insensitive to the rights of others. He says and does things which are racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic. “He doesn’t share our values of tolerance and celebrating diversity. He should not […]
Labour to Make Climate Change Core Part of School Curriculum
Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has welcomed the announcement from the national Labour Party that climate change should be a core part of the school curriculum. Under plans set out by Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, the next Labour government will ensure all young people are educated about the ecological and social impact of […]
Mayor John Biggs comments on EU elections
Commenting on the EU election results, Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “The European election result showed that as in the 2016 referendum our residents overwhelmingly want to remain in the EU. “Labour came first in Tower Hamlets but this result also saw people registering their frustration with the main parties. “I’d like to […]
Mayor Biggs warns ‘choices are getting tougher’ as Fair Funding Review looms
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has written to the Prime Minister urging her to rethink the so-called ‘Fair Funding’ review which could see millions in council funding diverted away from disadvantaged areas like Tower Hamlets to more affluent shire areas. The ‘Fair Funding’ review, which will change the way local councils are funded, is planned […]
