Latest news with #MarshadeCordova
Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
River Thames pier renamed over slavery links
A River Thames pier called 'Plantation Wharf' has been renamed after anti-racism campaigners said that it was linked to slavery. The wharf in Wandsworth, south London, will now be known as 'St Mary's Wandsworth Pier' after the local Labour MP said it was 'highly offensive'. The pier was named after an adjoining housing development called Plantation Wharf. The site was built on a former sugar refinery by Iain Shearer, the millionaire dockland developer in the 1980s and early 1990s. The development also includes a series of British Empire-themed names, including Cotton Row, Spice Court and Ivory Square. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which owns the pier, renamed it on Monday after a backlash from anti-racism campaigners. Marsha de Cordova, the Labour MP for Battersea, said the pier's former name had made 'a mockery of the violent history of chattel enslavement'. She said: 'The term 'plantation' carries highly offensive connotations, does not serve the wonderful diversity of Battersea's residents and makes a mockery of the violent history of chattel enslavement. 'Having campaigned for Thames Clippers to change the pier's name, I am pleased this has been achieved. It marks an important step forward in how we structure our public spaces.' Rachelle Ferron, a fellow campaigner and the head of entertainment at ITV's Good Morning Britain, said the pier had previously been 'a shameful signpost to slavery'. She said: 'While advocating for Plantation Rum to rebrand in 2022, I was taken aback to learn about Plantation Wharf on the world-renowned River Thames, which stood as a shameful signpost to slavery. 'Uber Boat by Thames Clippers inherited the name from a neighbouring development, which continues to brand its bricks with references to the transatlantic slave trade. 'I am pleased that Uber Boat by Thames Clippers listened and led the way by renaming its pier to St Mary's Wandsworth, which is much more appropriate for our times and diverse city.' Ms de Cordova and Ms Ferron have now called for Plantation Wharf Management Ltd, which manages the housing development, to follow suit. Other colonial-themed names at the development include Molasses Row, Calico House and Cinnamon Row. Estate name change Vanessa Brady, the chairman of the estate's board of directors, said residents would be consulted on changing its name. Ms Brady said: 'It is not a simple process, but we will continue to consult with residents to see if they agree to pay for the costs incurred in changing the name and indeed if they want to change their name. 'We can only consult and then act on the wishes of the leaseholders. Another idea would be to receive a fund from the Mayor's office to pay for it.' Uber Boat by Thames Clippers said: 'From April 7, Plantation Wharf Pier will be known as St Mary's Wandsworth following productive talks with house/boat residents, with the pier's signage being updated to reflect the change. 'The updated pier name will appear in our new Uber Boat by Thames Clippers timetable and route map, which comes into effect on the same day as the official name change.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
River Thames pier renamed over slavery links
A River Thames pier called 'Plantation Wharf' has been renamed after anti-racism campaigners said that it was linked to slavery. The wharf in Wandsworth, south London, will now be known as 'St Mary's Wandsworth Pier' after the local Labour MP said it was 'highly offensive'. The pier was named after an adjoining housing development called Plantation Wharf. The site was built on a former sugar refinery by Iain Shearer, the millionaire dockland developer in the 1980s and early 1990s. The development also includes a series of British Empire-themed names, including Cotton Row, Spice Court and Ivory Square. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which owns the pier, renamed it on Monday after a backlash from anti-racism campaigners. Marsha de Cordova, the Labour MP for Battersea, said the pier's former name had made 'a mockery of the violent history of chattel enslavement'. She said: 'The term 'plantation' carries highly offensive connotations, does not serve the wonderful diversity of Battersea's residents and makes a mockery of the violent history of chattel enslavement. 'Having campaigned for Thames Clippers to change the pier's name, I am pleased this has been achieved. It marks an important step forward in how we structure our public spaces.' Rachelle Ferron, a fellow campaigner and the head of entertainment at ITV's Good Morning Britain, said the pier had previously been 'a shameful signpost to slavery'. She said: 'While advocating for Plantation Rum to rebrand in 2022, I was taken aback to learn about Plantation Wharf on the world-renowned River Thames, which stood as a shameful signpost to slavery. 'Uber Boat by Thames Clippers inherited the name from a neighbouring development, which continues to brand its bricks with references to the transatlantic slave trade. 'I am pleased that Uber Boat by Thames Clippers listened and led the way by renaming its pier to St Mary's Wandsworth, which is much more appropriate for our times and diverse city.' Ms de Cordova and Ms Ferron have now called for Plantation Wharf Management Ltd, which manages the housing development, to follow suit. Other colonial-themed names at the development include Molasses Row, Calico House and Cinnamon Row. Vanessa Brady, the chairman of the estate's board of directors, said residents would be consulted on changing its name. Ms Brady said: 'It is not a simple process, but we will continue to consult with residents to see if they agree to pay for the costs incurred in changing the name and indeed if they want to change their name. 'We can only consult and then act on the wishes of the leaseholders. Another idea would be to receive a fund from the Mayor's office to pay for it.' Uber Boat by Thames Clippers said: 'From April 7, Plantation Wharf Pier will be known as St Mary's Wandsworth following productive talks with house/boat residents, with the pier's signage being updated to reflect the change. 'The updated pier name will appear in our new Uber Boat by Thames Clippers timetable and route map, which comes into effect on the same day as the official name change.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
30-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour set to align Britain with EU net zero laws
Both carbon markets work by capping total emissions that can be released by polluting industries, which receive permits to emit greenhouse gases known as emissions allowances. Allowances can be bought and sold on the market. The higher the carbon price, the greater incentive not to pollute and to sell the allowance instead. On Friday, the carbon price per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent in the UK ETS market was about £40.16, compared to £59.57 in the EU. Plans to link the markets were discussed at the last meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels this month. 'We do need to have closer alignment and a strong, stronger relationship in that space,' Marsha de Cordova, the Labour MP for Battersea and head of the UK delegation, said after the talks. Lord Livermore, a Treasury minister, recently told peers: 'We recognise that alignment with existing regimes can reduce administration burdens, so we will align where appropriate. 'We also continue to explore all options to improve trade and investment with the EU, which includes the UK and EU giving serious consideration to linking our emissions trading schemes.' Experts told The Telegraph that the UK would have to accept that the ECJ was the final arbiter of questions related to EU law governing the ETS. 'I imagine that would be seen as a strong requirement or pre-requisite, especially if there is still regulatory divergence,' said Sam Van den plas, policy director at Carbon Market Watch. 'You need to ensure the maximum amount of regulatory alignment, or realignment,' he said, adding it was important for market supervision and compliance. Parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement are subject to ECJ jurisdiction. However, the trade agreement and UK involvement in the Horizon programme resolve disputes through independent panels. Baron Duncan of Springbank, now a Tory peer, was the lead MEP on reforms to the EU ETS before Brexit. He told The Telegraph that the pressure to align with EU policies would be intense. 'Everybody is out of step. So when you come back into the fold, you have to adapt very quickly to these EU initiatives and also be bound by the European courts, which will agitate the Brexiteers,' he said. He added that British businesses would not necessarily be ready for the 'judder' of a steep increase to the EU prices if the UK rejoins. Pressure to stay aligned The UK and EU both have the same goal of net zero by 2050, although the jurisdictions have different staging posts in the timeline to reach that target. Simply linking the two markets will not tie a future government's hands over net zero, although there will be pressure to stay aligned. The UK ETS covers energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking, power generation and aviation. From 2027, the EU will also introduce carbon pricing on road transport and building, making 75 per cent of the bloc's emissions covered by a carbon price. When the UK ETS was set up on January 1 2021, it was basically a copy and paste of the EU system, but there has been divergence in the rules since. The UK offers more allowances in some industrial sectors than the EU, which would have to be removed. The British mechanism to remove surplus allowances to the market and protect it from financial shocks is also slightly different to the EU's and will have to change if the UK rejoins. There is another incentive for Sir Keir to align with Brussels; the EU's plans for a carbon tariff border wall, which will come into force in January. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposes tariffs on imports from outside the EU to prevent unfair competition with products made under lower and cheaper environmental standards. British businesses risk finding themselves on the wrong side of the tariff wall and vulnerable to increased costs. A UK CBAM is not scheduled until 2027, a year later. Rejoining the EU ETS could help reduce costs and simplify compliance for British exporters of products including fertiliser, cement, aluminium and hydrogen. It will also help avoid another politically toxic headache over Northern Ireland's Brexit deal. Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland would have to apply the EU's carbon border tariff to British imports even though it is also part of the UK. Formal negotiations on linking the two markets have not yet begun. EU governments must first give the Commission a mandate to start talks. There is a UK-EU summit on May 19, which could pave the way for those negotiations, as well as trade talks, a possible youth mobility deal, and a defence pact.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Drivers in England could be fined for parking on pavement under proposed new law
Drivers and riders could be fined for parking cars, e-bikes and e-scooters on pavements under a potential law put forward by a Labour MP. Marsha de Cordova, who is registered blind, said pedestrians were at risk of being injured as people are often forced into the road to navigate the obstacles. Ms de Cordova told the House of Commons 95% of people with sight loss have had to walk in the road due to vehicles parked on pavements. The figure rose to 99% for people in wheelchairs and riding mobility scooters. MPs heard wheelchair users, people with pushchairs, and those with visual impairment were among those affected by the problem. The Battersea MP is calling for existing laws in London that give councils the power to take action against drivers and cyclists to be rolled out across the rest of England. A similar policy has already been introduced in Scotland. Transport policy is devolved in Wales and Northern Ireland. An existing law against parking cars on public paths has been in place since 1980, but requires the police to enforce it. Introducing her Ten Minute Rule Bill, Ms de Cordova said: 'Pavement parking prevents many people from living their lives, from working, from socialising, from taking their children to school or getting to that vital appointment, and that has to change.' We have clear evidence that laws like this can, and do work, and I urge the house to support this Bill Marsha de Cordova MP She added: 'Between the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes an obstruction, and the lack of police resources, relying on police enforcement has not proven effective. 'There is a clear need for a law that brings the rest of England in line with London and Scotland. Councils needs to be empowered to take action as they know their areas best. 'This Bill would give them the flexibility to create limited exemptions in response to consultation with their local areas and communities.' She continued: 'We have clear evidence that laws like this can, and do work, and I urge the house to support this Bill.' She said the problem of deserted dockless e-bikes and e-scooters was also causing a problem, as schemes have grown ever popular in cities including London, Greater Manchester and Nottingham. The Government announced potential new powers for local authorities in the English Devolution White Paper last year which would allow them to regulate the schemes. 'While we should commend progress made on pavement parking in London, increasingly we are seeing abandoned rental e-scooters and e-bikes obstructive pavements. This remains a problem in my Battersea constituency,' she said. 'The Bill would increase the power of local authorities to introduce penalties for operators and riders of e-bikes and e-scooters left on pavements.' The previous Conservative government opened a consultation on stopping pavement parking in 2020, however ministers did not publish its findings. 'I welcome the minister for the future of roads' (Lilian Greenwood) commitment that this Government is looking at all options and will come forward with a response to the consultation in due course and I look forward to working with her on that,' Ms de Cordova said. The proposed legislation will be debated at its second reading on May 16.
