The amount of dodgy dealings going on in local authorities is insane. Thank god we have London Centric reporting on cases like this. The tragedy though is that this sort of journalism is so absent from the vast majority of the country. The government needs to establish some sort of local journalism endowment fund, managed by an independent board of trustees, to fund local journalism across the country in perpetuity. Locals would then have a better chance of holding corrupt politicians to account.
I lived in Bayswater for nigh on 40 years and Queensway Market gradually became a favourite place to explore for me. I have had haircuts from Belarusian barbers, Malaysian too, had my watch batteries changed cheaply and swiftly by the old Greek guy in his cluttered corner stall, made sundry food and sex aid purchases at the extraordinary range of outlets, had a reading done on the Street of Prediction, heard more languages spoken than anywhere nearby. Not to mention Taza, the terrific kebab stall on the street outside.Now Wholefoods will destroy a vibrant and unique part of what made Queensway so alluring and louche. Good luck with retaining any street credentials.
There's a famous economics paper measuring a country's level of corruption by the number of parking fines their diplomats get near the United Nations building in New York (fines they don't have to pay because of diplomatic immunity).
Behold the new councillor-parking-in-disabled-bays index
The BBC London disinfo article referenced in its reporting the obviously fake (I'd actually say satirical) videos of Croydon (e.g. the knife teddy picker). I don't think anyone actually believes them. Again the relevant question for Sadiq Khan would be, without these fake videos, would London's reputation be any better given the copious real footage circulating? (Khan has exquisitely poor timing and makes these statements just as there is more real world disorder happening.) Why is it that London (and Birmingham) are targeted by these videos, and not, say, Singapore or Geneva?
Thank God someone has investigated the missing Jamon Beurres, I've been wondering where they were for the last 6 months & thought they were only doing them after breakfast!
We urgently need a body to audit local government, hold it to account and prosecute wrongdoers. London Centric does its best, but will anything come of the stories it publishes?
Une pénurie de cornichons?.......should we be blaming the Russians....or the Chinese? This is a surefire way of destabilising otherwise sensible commuters at their lunch - anything could happen in the subsequent half hour( cue drums and "Stingray" theme tune)😀
London Centric & Jimmy, Do you guys have any serious issues with this specific community? I have been following you but I see now more often you guys are targetting Muslims in London. Why? Any targetted campaign against them? Is it a paid campaign?
The amount of dodgy dealings going on in local authorities is insane. Thank god we have London Centric reporting on cases like this. The tragedy though is that this sort of journalism is so absent from the vast majority of the country. The government needs to establish some sort of local journalism endowment fund, managed by an independent board of trustees, to fund local journalism across the country in perpetuity. Locals would then have a better chance of holding corrupt politicians to account.
Jim should report more on Aspire and the allegations of social housing corruption there and further into East London
I lived in Bayswater for nigh on 40 years and Queensway Market gradually became a favourite place to explore for me. I have had haircuts from Belarusian barbers, Malaysian too, had my watch batteries changed cheaply and swiftly by the old Greek guy in his cluttered corner stall, made sundry food and sex aid purchases at the extraordinary range of outlets, had a reading done on the Street of Prediction, heard more languages spoken than anywhere nearby. Not to mention Taza, the terrific kebab stall on the street outside.Now Wholefoods will destroy a vibrant and unique part of what made Queensway so alluring and louche. Good luck with retaining any street credentials.
Parking a Lambo in a disabled bay (twice!) is surely the epitome of moral bankruptcy? Yuck.
There's a famous economics paper measuring a country's level of corruption by the number of parking fines their diplomats get near the United Nations building in New York (fines they don't have to pay because of diplomatic immunity).
Behold the new councillor-parking-in-disabled-bays index
Gherkin? Gherk-out.
I’d like to recommend that Pret gets in touch with Hugo Reitzel based in Aigle, Switzerland, which produces *the* best gherks in the world. https://www.hugoreitzel.ch/shop/fr/16-cornichons
I don't have anything clever to add. But wanted to say thank you. I love being able to read proper news.
The BBC London disinfo article referenced in its reporting the obviously fake (I'd actually say satirical) videos of Croydon (e.g. the knife teddy picker). I don't think anyone actually believes them. Again the relevant question for Sadiq Khan would be, without these fake videos, would London's reputation be any better given the copious real footage circulating? (Khan has exquisitely poor timing and makes these statements just as there is more real world disorder happening.) Why is it that London (and Birmingham) are targeted by these videos, and not, say, Singapore or Geneva?
Some of the best pickles I've ever had were Iranian. Coincidence? 😉
Is Pret looking for cornichons or cheap cornichons? There is no shortage in my Lidl or Asda.
Apparently Dua Lipa may be partly to blame. Pickles are now very fashionable. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/ce3k65kq7qdo
Thank God someone has investigated the missing Jamon Beurres, I've been wondering where they were for the last 6 months & thought they were only doing them after breakfast!
We urgently need a body to audit local government, hold it to account and prosecute wrongdoers. London Centric does its best, but will anything come of the stories it publishes?
We had such a body in the form of the Audit Commission (and its appointed District Auditors), until it was abolished in 2010.
someone should tell pret to nip along to wholefoods where there are shelves of pickles/ gherkins on sale.
(& good to see corruption in local politics is still alive and well 😐)
Also, and probably more affordable… M&S!
Une pénurie de cornichons?.......should we be blaming the Russians....or the Chinese? This is a surefire way of destabilising otherwise sensible commuters at their lunch - anything could happen in the subsequent half hour( cue drums and "Stingray" theme tune)😀
What if the pickle shortage is actually just another front in the online disinformation war about London’s collapse?
London Centric & Jimmy, Do you guys have any serious issues with this specific community? I have been following you but I see now more often you guys are targetting Muslims in London. Why? Any targetted campaign against them? Is it a paid campaign?