Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have told mayor Sadiq Khan he will use ‘reserve legislative powers’ to strip Transport for London of its powers.

Government to 'take control' of TfL? Mayor could be stripped of powers

A thousand people were today ordered to leave their west London homes because of safety fears.
The immediate evacuation of the six-block Paragon development in Brentford was ordered by housing association Notting Hill Genesis.

The immediate evacuation of the six-block Paragon development in Brentford was ordered by housing association Notting Hill Genesis.

A thousand people whose lives 'may be at risk' ordered to leave homes

A woman in a face mask in London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a new three-tier system of alert levels for England following rising coronavirus cases and hospital admissions.


The government today moved all of London, the entire county of Essex and Elmbridge, Surrey into the Covid ‘high alert’ category.

Why the tougher Tier 2 Covid measures angered some London MPs

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the capital's move into the Tier Two 'high alert' level in the House of Commons this morning.

Londoners banned from going to other people's homes as rules tighten

The mayor and London council leaders are in talks with the government about raising London's alert level status from medium to high.

Sadiq Khan urges 'circuit breaker' UK lockdown to halt spread of Covid

Freelance professional musicians, conducted by director David Hill, perform a section of 'Mars' from Holst's 'The Planets' in Parliament Square, Westminster, London. The Let Music Live campaign is raising awareness of the need for targeted support for freelance musicians during the coronavirus pandemic and calling on the Government to recognise that freelance musicians are an economic asset.



Lockdown, social distancing, and restrictions on live performances have devastated the music industry, leaving concert venues and West End theatres closed.

How hundreds of musicians asked for help with a socially distanced protest

Sir Bob Neill, who represents Bromley & Chislehurst claimed tighter restrictions imposed on all London boroughs would damage public confidence.

London-wide lockdown would be 'grossly unfair' says suburban Tory MP

The prime minister has said he is keeping the Covid situation in London under constant review 

PM on London lockdown: ''I don't rule out taking tougher action''

Passengers wearing face masks on the Jubilee Line in London, as workers are being encouraged to return to their offices, with a Government PR blitz commencing this week reminding people about the efforts taken to make workplaces "Covid-secure".

TfL's cash flow from fares was devastated by the coronavirus lockdown and talks to try to agree a rescue package for TfL are at a crucial stage.

Cash-strapped TfL could rely on 70-year-old Tubes without bailout

Parts of central London and the City resembled a ghost town after the government ordered people to stay at home in March.

Empty offices 'should be turned into affordable homes', says Ed Davey

The Prime Minister announced a 10pm curfew for the hospitality trade and stricter mask wearing rules for staff and customers.

Businesses in PM's constituency fear financial ruin from lockdown curb

Emma Murphy in Washington writes: 'The Biden campaign is a quiet, restrained affair compared to the high octane Trump events as election day nears'.

Trump and Biden campaigns take different tactics as election day nears

Coronavirus cases in the UK continue to rise.

Robert Peston writes: 'I have been banging on about how the number of people dying right now of Covid-19 is much higher than it should be.'

Why is the coronavirus death rate rising?

The numbers are as relentlessly depressing today as they have been since the start of September.

Can Test and Trace save us from this Friday feeling?

Sir Ian is now 81 and says as he is quite lazy (his words) lockdown has been bearable for him.

Ian McKellen 'not prepared to die' to make films during Covid era

Following the chaos of the first debate, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are both claiming to be the winner of their second clash.  Oddly, both are right.

The Trump-Biden debate: Why both sides are claiming victory

The stage is set for the second presidential debate with Donald Trump taking on Joe Biden, but this time there's a mute button.

Trump and Biden prepare for second debate this time with a mute button

In swing states across the United States, former President Obama is going to be out campaigning for his old friend and Vice President Joe Biden.

Barack Obama takes to the campaign trail for the Biden Harris ticket

Jeffrey Epstein Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell

The deposition, running to more than 460 pages, was made in 2016 and Ms Maxwell's legal team had been trying to prevent them being made public.

Simon Harris

Political Correspondent