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).

POLITICAL FEVER

We are well into a very political Spring, with the pre-election period of sensitivity for local authorities now underway in advance of the regional and local elections due on 6 May, a Queen’s Speech now set for 11 May and who knows, maybe a Cabinet reshuffle not long after that?

BAD WEEK FOR BAILEY?

We have made the editorial decision not to focus this week on the recent events in Clapham following the terrible murder of Sarah Everard.

MAKE LONDON GREAT AGAIN? 

"6 May 2010 saw Labour lose power nationally after 13 years.  But London swung back to Labour in the local elections held on the same day as that general election."

THIS ROUND'S ON RISHI

"Hot off the press today we have a first look at Rishi’s budget – apart from all the looks we got yesterday and in the days before that, as this Government did its usual thing of dishing out the headlines nice and early."

TO RECOVERY AND BEYOND!

This time next week we will have heard the Chancellor’s Budget statement and we will of course provide some early headlines in this very spot.

UNDER PRESSURE

Joining the dots on the stories in today’s edition, it is clear that complex eco-system of organisations that ‘run’ London – you might have seen our mind-boggling graphic on this – is under immense pressure.

REFORM, RECLAD, RENEW?

There’s some big ‘stuff’ in this edition – tax reform and public sector finance, NHS restructuring, the latest on the Grenfell inquiry - and keeping track of how it all relates to life in the capital is no easy thing.

WE HAVE A PLAN

As we close the door firmly on January 2021, it does seem that the new month brings with it a greater sense of progress and momentum. We have a Plan at least, a London Plan that is, as well as falling Covid-19 case numbers and an fast-increasing proportion of vaccinated people.

LONDON STALLING?

Along with the dramatisation of the Government’s handling of the pandemic (is anyone really keen to relive this just yet?!), you could get quite the melodrama out of the row over street space.

BUDGET SEASON

The latest poll suggests that incumbent Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan retains a substantial lead over Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey. No huge surprise there, but an interesting question is begged. 

CARS, CALL-INS AND CLADDING

As our dear city faces a state of emergency, the usual January horizon-scanning takes on a somewhat more desperate tone, with every prediction accompanied by a monumental shrug of the shoulders. Who knows what this year will hold? No seriously, who knows? Can they get in touch?