Plan for 70 new public toilets at Tube and bus stations is refused
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tfl-tube-bus-new-public-toilets-stations-b1063011.html
The plan won support from Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, but was voted down by the Labour group
A plan to create more public toilets at Tube and bus stations across the capital has been rejected by City Hall, despite most London Assembly members voting in favour of it.
The £20 million proposal, put forward by Green Party members at City Hall, attracted support from the Assembly’s Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups – meaning a majority of Assembly Members (AMs) were behind it.
It was voted down by the Labour group however, preventing it from achieving the required two thirds of support among AMs.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he would instead be willing to put funding aside for a feasibility study to explore the concept.
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https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tfl-tube-bus-new-public-toilets-stations-b1063011.html
The first fascists – and the first anti-fascists – in London 100 years ago
Historian ALFIO BERNABEI tells the remarkable story of how Sylvia Pankhurst and Silvio Corio railed against the fascist ‘camorra’ in Clerkenwell’s Little Italy in the aftermath of Mussolini’s seizure of power
IT WAS from their office near the British Museum at 98 Great Russell Street that 100 years ago the newly born branch of the Italian Fascist Party issued an invitation to a ball in the heart of London, the first such event in Britain.
The “Black Shirt Gala Ball” was to be held at the luxurious Cecil Hotel in the Strand on February 25 1923 “in aid of the fund for the fascista home in London.”
The eyecatching announcement in the Italian fascist weekly L’Eco d’Italia listed: DANCING from 8.30 P.M. (Evening Dress, Black Shirts for members of the Fascista Party), SUPPER at 10.30 P.M. and more DANCING TILL 3 A.M.
The wording made clear that the event was an official one organised “under the patronage of the Italian ambassador to the Court of St James, Marquis Della Torretta of the Princes of Lampedusa” with the Italian military and naval attaches in attendance.
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Everything was going well for the fascists — except for a pioneering movement of opposition born in London that was using language equivalent to a call to arms.
This movement was formed by a group of Italian anti-fascists centred around Soho who had launched their own publication, a weekly called Il Comento.
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Greens mark 50 years since birth of political movement to protect people and planet
Green Party founders, leaders and parliamentarians will gather today to mark the 50h anniversary of the founding of the Green political movement in the UK [1] – and the first Green Party in Europe.
Around 40 past and present leaders of the Greens including Caroline Lucas MP, Green peer Natalie Bennett, founding members Lesley Whittaker, Michael Benfield and Freda Sanders, and Jean Lambert former MEP, will meet for the opening of the Green Party archive at the London School of Economics [2].
The event marks the 50th anniversary of the first public meeting of PEOPLE, in Coventry on 22 February 1973. PEOPLE became the Ecology Party in 1975, before eventually becoming the Green Party in 1985.
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Tony Blair snubbed by DCU for peace process honour due to his role over Iraq war
Dublin City University (DCU) has rejected a proposal to award Tony Blair an honorary doctorate for his work on the Good Friday Agreement.
The former British prime minister had been proposed for the honour alongside Bertie Ahern.
However, the Sunday Independent understands the university’s governing authority rejected the nomination over fears it would lead to a backlash due to Mr Blair’s role over the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
“The decision was made that Mr Blair would be too controversial. They felt the Iraq war would bring too much negative attention to the university,” a source said.
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