When A Man Is Tired Of London
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London"; thus spake Dr Johnson. Today that's more true if you come from overseas than if you're UK born. Research from the Halifax shows that between 1998 and 2007, 1.6 million people moved into London from other parts of the UK while 2 million Londoners made a break for the suburbs. In fact, London is the only part of the UK that saw a net fall in internal migration. Can't take the pace, clearly. If you're wondering why there's not more room on the Tube, that's because 1.8 million people moved here from abroad in the same period, lured by this incredible city.
North West London Bus StrikeBus routes 13, N13, 114, 183, 292, H9, H10, H11, H13, H14, H17 and 398 are affected today by a driver strike over pay. Their union, Unite, say that London Sovereign drivers work for £6000 less than those employed by other companies and mediation broke down. Seems the bus driver pay discrepancy grumbles are rumbling on into 09. Keep an eye on TfL's website for updates.
George Galloway Injured At Demonstration
Yet another victim of terrorism and its discontents: on his way to the rally outside the Israeli embassy this past weekend, local celebrity and professional rouser of rabbles, George Galloway MP, sustained various injuries when a group he was with met riot police in the Hyde Park underpass. Galloway wasted no time in blaming the officers, claiming that they "attacked [him] repeatedly", though police sources say he was escorted through the tunnel for his own safety. It's not the first time this year that the member for Bethnal Green & Bow has been injured while politicking about the city - you'd think some folk had it in for him, an understandable notion considering his support for the kind of people who brandish signs such as this one. Still, silver lining for Galloway - he'll be able to catch every minute of this year's CBB while he recuperates. (Image / JudyGr)
More Disruption To Euston ServicesPlanning on catching a train from Euston tonight? Watch out. Severe disruptions are afoot thanks to some as-yet mysterious problems with overhead cables in the Watford Junction area. According to the BBC, "London Midland and Virgin Trains are unable to run any services but London Overground services are not affected." The disruption comes just as the West Coast Mainline reopened following the light aircraft crash on Friday. All today's services between London and Milton Keynes have been cancelled.