In the news

I wonder if there would be a way of helping small businesses

This is one of the things I flagged in my comments in this or the first survey sent around.

Of course it would be wonderful if all deliveries / children could be transported on Christiania bikes, but that isn't viable for everyone so I'm accepting there needs to be compromise.

I know there are impacts on the wider environment, but I thought giving subsidies for low emissions vehicles - particularly related to cashflow, so a tax holiday, or off-set. Or maybe even creating a "peoples car" a la Hitler, that fitted the brief.

The things that bug me are vehicles like Taxis, which are expensive to purchase and could have been using some form of hybrid technology for years. Didn't the Prius come out in 1997? Surely 20yrs is long enough to find an alternative design that isn't diesel based.

which everybody seems to be moving away from.

Have to disagree on that!

The Conservatives running the party today ≠ small government

They're all for outsourcing government services and trying to destroy the NHS indirectly so that it can become private. A slow move to take power out of the government.

No peep from them on TTIP/CETA either.

But, I may have missed something? :)

subsidies for low emissions vehicles

Great idea. Buy a low-emissions van for your business and get help with the cost. I'd be there like a shot! Sadly there are few (if any) well tested hybrid or electric utility vehicles on the market yet. The tech is still prohibitively expensive for many. I've wanted a van for ages, but there's no way I'd ever buy a diesel.

Depending on your usage, there are loads! I was driving an electric noddy-van for work 4-5 years ago!

The vintage vehicle date is a rolling 40 years, so it will include vehicles before 1978 in 2018 etc.

I'd sign up for this if I could charge it in the street without running a power cable across the path. I can see why anyone running a fleet would consider electric but it's still a pita for the smaller business that doesn't drive all day everyday and have a garage to arrange charging.

hats off the the GMB union for fighting this one all the way to the bank.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/28/uber-uk-tribunal-self-employed-status

join a union!

Last time I tried the page crashed, must try again! :/

web admins were probably on strike, work shy union members....

Haha :D

I got to the end, submit and "we can't take your application right now"

???
no profit, no success, no result

I think all the way to the bank means Supreme Court rather than tribunal, but I'd be interested to see how the appeal goes.

Can someone clarify something for me on mutuality of obligation in the employment context, as I am a bit unsure of how it differs to any contractual obligation....

Is the point that you have to be available for work regardless of whether there is work and likewise the employer must pay?

Or is it simply one of three limbs that is just there to prove that some form of contractual relationship exists?

[ full judgement here in case ppl are interested https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/aslam-and-farrar-v-uber-reasons-20161028.pdf ]

British Cycling statement http://po.st/F4Dj6F via @po_st
Jess varnish vilified.

Sutton mystified
Still no comment on bradgate

villified? her complaint was upheld

"Following an internal investigation, the British Cycling board has upheld an allegation made by Jess Varnish that former Technical Director Shane Sutton had used inappropriate and discriminatory language.

The board wishes to put on record its sincere regret that this happened. The findings of the investigation will help the development of the organisation alongside the independent review into the culture of the World Class Programme, jointly commissioned by British Cycling and UK Sport, and led by Annamarie Phelps.

The full text of the board's report has been made available to the independent review. No further comment will be made until that review has reported its findings.
"

I assumed he meant BC agreed shane sutton has vilified jess varnish

^^^ Vindicated, shirley?

It was the right word but vindicating the wrong person. She was exonerated he vilified.

Right. So sexism in British Cycling is okay then?

I can't work out if he is unable to use the English language or condoning sexism either.

Use of the english language you all know what i mean . Move along now.

Seriously, you guys are on your high horse because somebody used the wrong word?

That's nothing. Wait 'til there's some bad grammar or a spelling mistak...

Ha ha. I'm intellectually superior to you. Etc

You called?

Depending on your usage, there are loads! I was driving an electric noddy-van for work 4-5 years ago!

I've googled electric van but had poor results, what should I be searching for? Who makes them?

edit, just found ones by nissan, renault and iveco, don't know what happened with my last search..