Brothers in Arms: London priorities for a prosperous England

England is maybe in need of a reset after fourteen years of Tory and LibDem merry-go-round governments; Akin to a banana kingdom? London is by many seen as the solution; As England's saviour in shining armour? I will in this article, argue that London and Londoners need to tweak direction, and tweak attitude: For north and middle England to resurrect and prosper. I the author, is London born, and lived for a short decade, north-of-the-north, in Edinburgh.

The future of London and England is bright and promising; But only if national, regional and local decisions makers act together, Universities, research institutions, royals, churches, businesses, unions; professional, voluntary and non-goverment organisations included. Maybe for a quarter, third, or half of these organisations, to refocus their 'reason d'etre' away from London as we know it. And for half of these organisations to anchor their centre of activities in one of the dozen largest cities elsewhere in England, away from the East South East. The rich, academics, intellectuals and educated included.

Will this be London's armageddon? Without parliament, government, lobbyist, political media, political NGOs, two dozen ministries; Altogether 50-100k high income people and professionals; Including their spending power and influence; Throughout London and the home counties? Or will London continue to succeed and prosper? Like non capital cities across the North Sea and beyond; Places such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Zurich, Milano, Lyon and Barcelona.

What do the above strategies mean for London? Is it the end of the metropolis as we know it since 1945, 1979 or 2000? Can London adapt, tweak and nudge itself into an accelerator of prosperity; Of not just itself, but also the nine largest cities of the North, Yorkshire and Midlands included? For London, this may result in one hundred thousand fewer superior paid jobs, a quarter million fewer households, and a hundred thousand fewer students. A apocalypse or armageddon? Or a manageable tweak of direction? Improving social mobility, social well being, and quality of life. Both for Londoners within a streamlined London. And for the inhabitants of the nine largest cities of northern and middle England.

• Brothers in Arm PiL133 3p PDF
• Planning in London

Happy Midsummer!

We were blessed with tropical spring since the second weekend of March, combined with weeks of early summer heatwave; We've been in an out of hospitals; surgeries; physios; sometimes daily. Unfortunately, Pauls mental and physical health, muscle strength, bone density, thigh/hip pain, sleep, still fluctuates; With good days and better days, good nights and better nights. 

In spring I cycle six times along rivers; the River Lee, from Broxburn; to Hertford; and return via Enfield; Three times along the River Thames, altogether 65+ miles from Gravesend and the estuary in the east, to Windsor and Eaton in the west; Twice in North Downs, from Merstham to Guildford, once onto Waybridge; Once in the southeast, from Croydon to Bromley via Breakneck Hill 145masl; And crawl or swim occasionally outdoors at LFL in Hackney 1¼-1½k, occasionally non stop.

Our friend BL 1963-2025 in SE16 in 2017

As for the weeks and months ahead; We receive as many friends and family as possible in Bermondsey; When Paul has assistance typically 8-7 daily. We were 2 nights on the Sussex coast;  10 days in Edinburgh and/or 3w in Berlin, as long as Paul stays unchanged.

Record spring tide at 7.84m Sunday 30.03

As we live by the river by Bermondsey station, feel free to drop by here; And for those of you who are able to; Join us for my half birthday at Hermitage Wharf; On the opposite side of the river; This year scheduled for Sunday 31 Aug 2:30-6:30pm.