FOUR YEARS ON

It is four years since that terrible day, when the blaze at Grenfell Tower cast a dark shadow across the capital and, with the unspeakable human cost, prompted long overdue discussions about building safety, housing and inequality.

BRIGHT FUTURES 

There’s little better than a sunny day in the capital and in an effort to make the most of it we have kept this edition short and sweet. Like all the best sweet treats though it’s also densely packed.

SUMMER IN THE CITY 

So summer is finally here, both technically (it being June) and visually (that yellow thing – it’s the sun). Some (very lucky) fans are at Lord’s today for the start of the England v New Zealand test match. 

TWO STEPS FORWARD

With the election done, AGM season in full bloom, a vaccine surge underway and the weather, please god, the weather about to turn to the good, there’s a fresh start vibe around London town.

OUT ON THE TOWN 

As election fever dies down, borough AGMs take centre stage and with one year now to go before the local elections in the capital, we move into a nervous period for many. 

LET'S DO LONDON

For the first time since 2004, I wasn’t at City Hall for the results of the GLA elections.  It was a strange feeling to be listening to BBC Radio London and the excellent Susana Mendonca, with regular insightful comments from someone called Tony Travers, as the clock ticked slowly and inexorably to 23:00 on Saturday night when we finally had confirmed what we knew already. 

NO GREAT SURPRISES?

Tumultuous, unprecedented times. The biggest shift in our nation’s geo-political standing since the Second World War. A global pandemic and a catastrophic number of fatalities.

CRUNCH TIME FOR KHAN

Tomorrow, which we seem to have collectively dubbed ‘Super Thursday’, will see an estimated 48m voters decide on more than 5,000 seats across 143 English local councils.

8 DAYS TO GO

Roughly nine years ago, I spent a knackering 12 hours at the election count at Alexandra Palace – on hand to deal with media issues as part of the LCA team that was helping London Elects get out the vote.

HEY PRESTO MANIFESTO

There are two sets of stats in today’s LDN that really stick out for me. 

POLLING HIGH, LOW IN POWERS?

This Monday’s reopening is a long-awaited relief for all Londoners, though recent news of COVID variant outbreaks in South and North London boroughs is a reminder that we should all remain cautious.

BONKERS FOR BALLOTS 

There’s a lot to be excited about this week, not least because we can all enjoy the company of friends and family (in small, socially-distanced groups and all outdoors of course).