Long weekend of Moroccan luxury: 4nt all inclusive escape from £355pp incl. flights, hotel & more

Get your early bird planning caps on and look ahead to where you can escape to in 2019. What's better than a Moroccan mini-break? An all inclusive Moroccan mini-break of course! With this amazing deal, you'll jet off to Marrakech in March, when temperatures in northern Africa are already in the low 20s! The 4*… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LCDC letter, sent out to Lord Chief Justice and Tfl's Howard Carter.

The Rt Hon Lord Burnett

Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

 

21st August 2018

 

Senior District Judge Arbuthnot

 

 

Dear Lord Chief Justice,

 

I am writing as Chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club (“LCDC”) which is a mutual society that represents many London licensed Hackney Carriage drivers (“black cabs”) in London.

 

On the 18th August a story was published in The Guardian newspaper which was also published online (https://ift.tt/2Moc3Za) which informed their readership that the Chief Magistrate, District Judge Emma Arbuthnot, was “stepping aside” from hearing further Uber hearings, to avoid any perceived conflict of interest, as a result of her husband, Baron Arbuthnot (Cons: Wanstead & Woodford), being a fee earning “Senior Consultant” (and former Director) of SC Strategy which is known to represent the interests of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which in turn is a major Uber and therefore “ULL” investor.

 

It is clear that between 30th April 2018 when the “ULL” appeal began at Westminster Magistrates Court and the 26th June 2018 when the ruling was delivered, that TFL were not aware of the potential conflict of interest in having the Chief Magistrate determine the issue of “ULL”’s fitness to operate. In this ruling the Chief Magistrate handed “ULL” a 15 month lifeline, without which they would have been unable to run their business in London.

 

Indeed, it is understood that prior to this link having been disclosed by journalists for The Guardian, the Chief Magistrate had already taken a keen interest in “LUL” (and Uber cases), having ruled in favour (again) on another case and having had 5 other cases, which featured “ULL” or Uber issues reserved to herself (including one in Brighton, which after having the conflict pointed out to her, she immediately passed to a fellow Judge).

 

Whilst we are heartened that the Chief Magistrate has clearly formed the view that there is likely to be a perception of impartiality because of her husband’s links to the mysterious SC Strategy Ltd (a company established by Lord Carlile along with Sir John Scarlett in 2012, which invited Baron Arbuthnot to be a Director in January 2017), it is disappointing that a review of her role in the appeal TFL v ULL has not been considered.

 

SC Strategy Ltd is described as offering clients strategic advice on UK policy and regulation and paid out dividends to the Lord Calilie and Sir John Scarlett totalling £800,000 between 2012 and 2015. Indeed so little is known about this company that the only known client is QIA (the Qatar Sovereign Wealth Fund). Had there been many companies for which her husband was a director, it would be plausible that the Chief Magistrate (appointed in October 2016 after having been Deputy Chief Magistrate to Howard Riddle for the preceding 4 years) may know very little about his interests...

 

Unfortunately, Baron Arbuthnot has only been the Director of 4 companies, coincidentally 2 of these he shared a Directorship with Lord Calile; SC Strategy Ltd (01/01/16 – 31/12/17) and Astute Strategy Ltd (which he joined in May 2017). AS Ltd is an active (yet dormant) company. Of the remaining 2 he resigned from Vertic in November 2013 and whilst he remains a Director of Gusbourne PLC, this company manufactures English sparking wine, which is unlikely to be the sort of company where a conflict with her Judicial Office would be found.

 

You may feel that it is worthy of note that in an investigation by the Wall Street Journal on members of the House of Lord’s interests, Lord Carlile said SC Strategy 'are not involved in lobbying at all, nor do we provide services in government relations,' adding 'we give strategic advice to entities and individuals on UK regulatory issues, on the structure and working of government, and how best to place themselves in the UK'. Confirming that Clients include the QIA and on this he says, 'we give advice to a sovereign wealth fund, which of course includes its subsidiaries according to need'.

 

Thus, to summarise:

 

Baron Arbuthnot, is a fee earning Consultant in SC Strategy Ltd (for which he was formerly a Director).

SG Strategy Ltd.’s only known client is QIA.

QIA is a major investor (perhaps to the tune of more than $1 billion dollars) in Uber/ULL indeed, so major is the investment that it could well be considered a subsidiary of GIA.

SG Strategy Ltd gives “strategic advice... on UK regulatory issues... and how to best place themselves in the UK” and

his wife, who is the Chief Magistrate, apparently unaware of the link to Uber hears the appeal of TFL v ULL.

The Appeal is successful and the Chief Magistrate grants an 18 month extension which permits ULL to operate in London (and QIA does not suffer financially).

 

I am sure that you will be aware of the case of R v Sussex Justices, Ex parte McCarthy ([1924] 1 KB 256, [1923] All ER Rep 233) which is a leading case on the impartiality and recusal of Judges is famous for its precedence in establishing the principle that the mere appearance of bias is sufficient to overturn a judicial decision. It also brought into common parlance the oft-quoted aphorism "Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done”.

It is difficult to accept that The Guardian newspaper were the first to bring the connection to the Chief Magistrate with regard to her husbands business interests but that being said, if the mere appearance of bias is sufficient to overturn a judicial decision ought that not to be done in the appeal of TFL v ULL?  

I very much appreciate your time in reading this letter and look forward to your considered response.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Grant Davis

Chairman

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Late season all inclusive Majorca holiday from £267pp - 7nts hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, we have come across this bargain holiday in Majorca staying on an all inclusive board basis for under £270 per person. You will stay for a week in October when the weather should reach a toasty 23° - book today with a deposit of just £25 each. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe 5* Mykonos family break 4nts from £400pp - incl. private Jacuzzi suite, flights & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! We've laid eyes on the gorgeous 5* Myconian Imperial Resort on Mykonos (a member of Leading Hotels of the World) right by Elia Beach. Here you can frolic in 3 swimming pools, spa facilities and gourmet cuisine and we opted for the Premium Room with Outdoor Jacuzzi for that added bit of extra… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive autumn Dom Rep break from £555pp - incl. 7nts 4* resort, flights & bags

Have a browse of our Package Finder and you'll find some exotic bargains departing this autumn. We're eyeing up a week of the all inclusive treatment at Gran Bahia Principe La Romana, nicely located on Montero Beach in the Dominican Republic. The package includes direct flights, luggage, transfers and ATOL protection. The cheapest options depart… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Geau to Cologne: flights from £12 return

Pirates, visit Cologne - one of Germany's most beautiful and historic cities - from only £12 return! Depart from London, Manchester or Bristol for a short flight to beer-loving Germany's city with the most pubs per capita... Warum nicht? Flight details Direct flights with Ryanair Departures from Bristol, London Stansted and Manchester Example date: 24th… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Autumn in Menorca from £179pp: 7nts incl. flights, bags, transfers & waterpark entry (4 share)

Pirates, we have come across this bargain getaway to the beautiful Balearic Islands, this end-of-season summer holiday will see you heading to the island of Menorca for a week in the sun. The holiday is based on 4 sharing so grab your squad and get booking, you can of course holiday as a couple if… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Tasty Turkey getaway from £236pp - 7nts 4* hotel, breakfast, flights & transfers

Ahoy pirates, we want to drag summer out for as long as possible and with now we can with this great holiday in Turkey. The holiday is with Thomas Cook and includes everything you could need such as luggage and transfers and includes breakfast each morning of your stay. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Malta in winter: 4nt B&B break from £196pp incl. flights & 4* hotel - spring from £258pp

Treat yourselves to an early Christmas present this year Pirates with a cheeky 4 night trip to Malta where the temperatures are still in the high teens - if not the 20s! Leave the chaos of the festive season at home and instead head out to the Argento Hotel, a 4* accommodation with it's own… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Family Of Suicide Taxi Driver, Puts Up Charity Billboard In Welling

A family from Welling has turned their grief into action after their father took his own life, by helping other men suffering from mental illness.

Joey Barton, a black cab driver, was just 57 years old when he committed suicide on June 23 of this year. His funeral took place on July 19.

After his death, his ex-wife Christine, and their two children, Sam and Chloe, wanted to do something to honour his memory.

“We were absolutely devastated. We never thought it would happen,” Christine told News Shopper.

She describes her ex-husband as “very sociable” with “lots of friends,” which left people shocked and confused when they found out he had died.

At his funeral, a friend who worked alongside Joey on the taxi circuit said he “could not comprehend” the idea he had killed himself.

Just a week before he died, the pair had been “laughing, joking and having a bit of banter.”

Since Joey’s death, Christine told News Shopper she and her children “did not want to sweep it under the carpet,” and, said they wanted to address the issue of suicide rates in men.

So, instead of collecting for flowers at his funeral, Joey’s family asked mourners to donate to a gofundme page set up on behalf of the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which works to prevent suicide.

After fundraising and liaising with the charity, and with a bit of help from Christine’s experience in marketing, the family has put up a billboard under the railway bridge in Welling, at the junction of Bellegrove Road and Westwood Lane. It will be on display until September 12.

“It was my son’s idea,” Christine said, after Sam had heard about the charity through a friend, Jamie Kitto, who lives in County Durham.

Jamie has been familiar with the work of CALM for some time, and has managed to campaign for a billboard of his own to be put up at the grounds of Horden Community Welfare FC.

Now the family is asking other organisations across the country to get involved and offer their support to CALM in Joey’s memory.

Christine said: “When you take your own life your pain and suffering does not die with you. It is inherited by your loved ones.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and it is never, ever, the answer. This is why we have to get men talking, to open up about how they are feeling.

“There is help out there and it's okay not to be okay

Source : News Shopper.

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Morocco flights from just £31 return - Winter dates

Who would have ever though you could fly to Africa from the UK for less than £35 return? We were skeptical mateys but these bargain Ryanair flights to Fez in Morocco actually check out, with a decent number of dates and flights available at this price. Flights are only available from London and are cheapest… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Bucket list destination: Return flights to Kathmandu, Nepal from £390 - incl. 30kg checked bags

Calling all you adventurous Pirates out there, here's something a little different for you. Make 2019 the year you venture off the beaten path. With these cheap flights to Kathmandu, Nepal - gateway to the Himalayan mountains! Whether you've always wanted to visit Everest's famous base camp, or simply take in a different culture altogether… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Central Taxis Provides Vital Support to Bereaved Families in Edinburgh

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Edinburgh’s largest black cab company has partnered up with a much-loved children’s charity to support bereaved families during the most challenging moments following the loss of a child.Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has received a £500 donation from Central Taxis to use as a travel fund for parents who face the heart-breaking journey home from hospital with their child’s belongings.Parents often had to use public transport to make the journey home, with their children’s precious belongings tucked away into plastic hospital bags.ECHC works closely with Children and Young People's Palliative Care team at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) in Edinburgh to provide care and support to the children at the hospital and their families.Lesley Thomson, Clinical Co-ordinator at RHSC, said: “We are constantly striving to ensure we provide strong and stable support for bereaved families. Although we cannot ease their pain at this unimaginable time, we want to do anything we can to help alleviate their stress.“This service has been developed to provide a comfortable environment for bereaved parents and to ensure that they get home safely.”Katrina Marshall, Clinical Nurse Specialist at RHSC, said: “The whole team is incredibly grateful to Central Taxis for their donation and co-operation. Their generosity and support truly are amazing.”RHSC, ECHC and Central Taxis have worked together to put a lasting scheme in place, with a special code given to RHSC’s staff to organise transport for bereaved parents.The code immediately alerts the dispatcher to the passenger’s circumstances and helps to ensure that they are given privacy during those critical moments.Tony Kenmuir, Chairman at Central Taxis, said: “ECHC is our chosen charity of the year and staff and drivers have been raising money and offering services wherever we can. The last thing anyone should have to worry about is how to get to and from hospital.“When we learned about the Children and Young People’s Palliative Care unit and the work that the amazing team of people do there, we had no hesitation in offering transport to anyone in financial hardship.”ECHC has also helped to fund canvas bags with a heart printed on them for the parents to put their children’s precious belongings in.This comes after Palliative Care’s recent revamp of their memory boxes. Filled with the child’s favourite items and their hand or foot prints as well paintings and written reflections, the boxes are given to bereaved parents and siblings.Amy Ford, Corporate Fundraiser at ECHC, said: “The work that the Palliative Care staff at RHSC does is incredibly thoughtful.“Loss of a loved one is a truly tragic experience, even more so if it’s a child. The team’s efforts to make sure that the families are supported as best as possible during this difficult time are really outstanding.“We cannot thank Central Taxis enough for their generous donation and their willingness to work with us to bring comfort to those parents. We hope that this partnership will only grow from strength to strength.”ECHC provides vital support to the RHSC and to a number of other locations across east central Scotland where children and young people are treated, including St John’s Hospital in Livingston.The funds raised by ECHC help to fund equipment and activities that improve young people’s hospital experiences, so that they can be a child first and a patient second.

August 21, 2018 at 02:08PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Prague-in' bargain: 3nts from £101pp incl. 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, pack for Prague with this solid value break: 3 nights from £101pp including the 4* Union Hotel, breakfast & flights. This pretty city is the perfect destination when the nights start drawing in, and it's a bangin' bargain to boot! Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 14th… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Zero tolerance over speeding could lead to taxi and private hire drivers losing their license

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National roads policing head, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, who hit the headlines in January 2018 after calling for an end to the buffer-zone afforded to drivers who exceed the speed linit in the UK, has re-iterated his call for a zero tolerence approach to speeding motorists.

Mr Bangham cited 15% of all fatal crashes involved excessive speed in 2015.

At the moment, it is generally accepted, although at any given police services discretion, that drivers are given a 10% plus 2 mph leeway over any given speed limit. Chief Constable Bangham wants that buffer zone scrapped, which will see motorists potentially facing a penalty for going 1 mph over the speed limit.

Mr Banghams views are not necessarily shared by other police service leaders, with a number fearing a public backlash over what is seen as yet another attack on the beleaguered motorist. There are also concerns that a zero tolerance approach would be unenforceable.

Drivers travelling 1 mph over the limit could be faced with being forced to attend a speed awareness course, with those who are deemed to be persistent offenders issued with £100 and 3 penalty points. Under the new proposals, those who exceed the limit by a greater margin than 1 mph could face a court summons and a driving ban.

This could potentially see a multitude of taxi and private hire drivers as well as other industries that rely on road transport banned, given the amount of time that they spend on the road.

Interestingly, any money accrued from speeding fines via a camera, goes directly to the government, whereas money accrued from speed awareness courses go straight to any given police authority, this therefore could bring into question the integrity of the whole proposal as it is almost impossible to avoid, or even notice a 1 mph increase in speed. Therefore the whole proposal could be seen as nothing more than a revenue raising exercise.

There has also been criticism of the plans on safety grounds, with the main concern being that drivers may be glued to their speedometer rather than watching the road ahead and turn good drivers into criminals.

Police chiefs have agreed to review the current guldelines, with a view to implementing some changes.

August 21, 2018 at 01:53PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Police Chief Inspector Arrested In Benidorm After Row With Local Taxi Driver

Police in Benidorm were called to the well-known town centre…but it was nothing to do with the traditional problems associated with British Tourists!

This time, it a chief inspector from one of the National Police units based in Valencia who ended up being detained after an alleged altercation with a taxi driver.

According to a report in the Spanish media, two members of the Local Police were slightly injured, apprehending the chief inspector.

It all kicked off in Calle Ibuza in Benidorm, when three people, including the police chief (who was off duty and not in uniform) tried to get into a Taxi that was off duty. 

The driver told the three he was off duty, but it all got out of hand and the local police were called by the driver.

When they arrived at the scene, they arrested one of the men who was described as being “very upset” at what had taken place. His two companions tried to calm the situation down, but the situation became increasingly heated.

When the Chief Inspector was asked to show some ID, he allegedly refused and threatened to report the five members of the Local Police that had arrived.

He was then arrested and taken to the National Police station in Benidorm, where legal proceedings were put into operation.

Source : RTN news.

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Bargain Disneyland Paris break from £109pp - incl. 1-3nts hotel, park entry & flights/Eurostar

Discover the thrill of Disneyland Paris during some of the most magical times of the year: Disney's Halloween Festival and Disney's Enchanted Christmas! With this package from TourCenter you'll get park tickets, 1, 2 or 3 nights accommodation close to the park, and return flights or Eurostar connections. Departures are available between September and next… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

REVEALED! Full LTDA letter to Lord Cheif Justice seeking investigation into Uber case judge

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It I was revealed yesterday that the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association has called on the Lord Chief Justice to investigate accusations of bias in the decisions of Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot around Uber.

From trade sources, TaxiPoint have acquired the full letter sent to the Royal Courts detailing the need for action.

Trade sources have also highlighted that there are preliminary discussions with regulators Transport for London in regards to a Judicial Review surrounding the London Uber licence appeal case.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA, said yesterday: “It’s appalling that Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot has been involved in so many cases which have backed Uber, without disclosing her links to the company. “We want the Lord Chief Justice to investigate as a matter of urgency to restore faith in our legal system.”

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Opt for a warm winter in Tenerife: 4nts from £297pp incl flights & 5* hotel - 7nts from £477pp

Sack of the grey clouds of winter Pirates and instead go for a mini break in the sunny Canaries. You'll be staying at the top rated 5* Iberostar Grand Mencey, with it's chic design features and amazing outdoor space that you and your travel buddy will love. If you have used all of your holiday… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Businessman says Manchester Airport's drop-off charges have added £50 to his monthly Uber bill

A businessman who travels through Manchester Airport every week says the cost of his minicab rides have gone up by £50 a month since new drop-off charges were launched.

Michael Cowell, 34 from Altrincham, travels regularly in his role as a furniture design company director.

Last month, hub bosses introduced ‘kiss and fly’ drop-off charging, with drivers paying £3 for five minutes or £4 for ten minutes - and £25 for stays over that.

The airport has long had a £4 minimum car parking charge in place. But drivers used to avoid paying this by using forecourts to pick up - against airport rules.

However forecourts have now been taken over by the drop-off charging bays - which means drivers picking up passengers now have no choice but to pay.

Michael now claims Uber drivers he has used are passing on both pick up and drop-off charges - plus a premium for waiting time - taking his average journey cost from £17 to £23, and his monthly outlay from around £136 to £184.

And that’s when Michael can even get a cab - he says Uber drivers have started to refuse pick-ups from T3 because of the inconvenience and cost.

He added: “Last week fifteen different Uber drivers cancelled on me and I had to get a black cab for £31 because Uber drivers have started to boycott T3 to avoid the hassle of going through the car park now the forecourts are no-go areas.

“Between Manchester Airport’s policies and Uber I’m much worse off. There must be loads of people in the same boat.”

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The dad-of-two, whose work takes him to destinations across the UK, Ireland and France, added: “It sounds like small costs but it adds up pretty quickly for someone like me.

“I understand the airport needs to pay for its expansion but this new parking system hasn’t gone down well.

“It’s harder to drop off and it’s harder to pick up because you are now forced through a car park. It’s expensive.

“I’d like the airport to make it work better and review the charges because they’re unfair.”

He added: “I’d like to see the director of the airport comment on this. I’ve got this old-fashioned mentality that the leaders of an airport should get involved when there’s clearly a problem.

“Yet when I complain I just get this stock answer which doesn’t address my complaint.”

A Manchester Airport spokesman said private hire companies were responsible for setting their own fares and that drivers can apply for a discount scheme.

The spokesman added there was a free drop-off option at the Jet Parks 1 which cab drivers can also use to avoid fees.

A Manchester Airport, spokesman, said: “As we developed our new forecourt arrangements, we considered the interests of a significant number of user groups. This included frequent commercial users, such as private hire operators, for whom a discount scheme was developed.

“While it is the decision of each private hire firm whether they pass on this discount, it was our intention in creating the scheme that passengers would be the ultimate beneficiaries. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

An Uber spokesman confirmed drivers were passing on the charges from the airport, but declined to comment further

Source Manchester Evening News.

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