As the Conservative leadership race enters its final hours, bookies’ favourite Liz Truss has further set out her stall for London. Writing in today’s Standard, the Foreign Secretary commits to supporting the capital’s economy, ending strike action on the Tube and combatting crime.
We backed Truss because of our view that she has the best plan for our city. We trust she will put an end to levelling down London. It is heartening that she recognises that the capital is the engine room of the UK economy, but that it also contains real pockets of poverty and disadvantage that need addressing too.
At the same time, despite the campaign rhetoric, we hope Truss’s arrival sees a thawing of relations between central government and City Hall. Regardless of ideological differences, we need co-operation and co-ordination between the two. It is, after all, Londoners who pay the price of discord and political point-scoring.
London and Londoners stand by to lead Britain through these choppy economic waters and into recovery. What we need in return is a government and Prime Minister eager to unleash that potential, for the benefit not only of our city but the nation as a whole.
MPs under scrutiny
Parliament may be enjoying its long summer recess but Pestminster has not gone away. The rolling crisis reared its head again following accusations of historic sexual misconduct against a Cabinet minister and senior Number 10 aide in Boris Johnson’s government.
The allegations emanate as Johnson prepares to end his tenure as Prime Minister, which was brought to a halt following the scandal involving his deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher.
Parliament, like any workplace, must be a safe space for employees and visitors. Yet Westminster is not a normal workplace. It is the seat of our democracy.
Public confidence in individual MPs, members of the Cabinet and our politics more widely is shaky at best. Allegations such as these should be fully investigated by parties and the authorities. Our representatives, who interact with voters every day, must be above reproach.
It takes great bravery to come forward in these circumstances. Party politics remains in many ways a closed shop where perceived criticism of powerful people — even of illegal behaviour — is too often regarded as disloyalty.
We must redouble our efforts to rid Parliament of these attitudes and make it clear, once and for all, that the behaviour outlined above will never be tolerated.
A true culture capital
There’s more art and culture to consume in London than anyone could hope to consume in a year, let alone a weekend. From the season’s most controversial play, I, Joan, at the Globe to the myriad of exhibitions and galleries across the capital, there is so much to keep us occupied and inspired as summer turns to autumn. And of course lots of it is free to see.
Londoners can be forgiven the odd moment of wondering why we put up with the rent, the strikes and the weather. But there’s a reason people flock to our city. There is so much to do, see and explore, right on our doorstep.
