09/07/2014 BBC London News

humbling of its hosts. That's all from us. Now on BBC One,

it's time for the news wherd That's all from us. Now on BBC One,

it's time for the news where you are.

I'm Alice Bhandhukravi. Boris Johnson has backed calls

by a group of MPs to give London its own tax`raising powers.

The Local Government select committee says cities

and not central government should be in charge of setting business

rates, stamp duty and counchl in charge of setting business

rates, stamp duty and council tax. rates, stamp duty and council tax.

Here's our political editor, Tim Donovan.

The mayor today at the finals of the London schools quits. `` ways.

The mayor today at the finals of the London schools quits. `` waxs. But

one question understandably not ask here was how much of London's income

comes from taxes that London raises? It is only about 7%, and we

would like to push it to 12$. Which would like to push it to 12$. Which

was why the verdict of the MPs today was why the verdict of the LPs today

is welcome. It is a way of saying to the English cities, which h`ve the

bulk of the job creation prospects in the economy, this is a way we can

devolve some fiscal power to you to use it to raise money for

infrastructure schemes, for new housing that is so desperately

housing that is so desperatdly needed and the way of encouraging

local politicians to go for growth. But what exactly should be fiscally

devolved, that is, given thd London devolved, that is, given the London

government to raise and spend? Well, the committee of MPs says Robert E

taxes, for a start. That is all of what is raised from business rates

`` property taxes. If it is property taxes, th`t money

will go up over the years, and then will go up over the years, `nd then

London would be able to ret`in that increase in income. Then it would be

able to spend it on things London needs. This will not pay for a new

Crossrail, but it might pay for some planning work to be done. Whth

Crossrail, but it might pay for some planning work to be done. With more

power over tax being considdred planning work to be done. Whth more

power over tax being considered for Scotland and Wales, shouldn't London

and its mayor have more freedom? Probably best to stay with the

government, stay centralised. And you can account for whether money is

going. If it means all the loney you can account for whether money is

going. If it means all the loney in London goes to London, the rest of

the country will struggle. That does not seem fair, because London does

suck in all the jobs. Anythhng that suck in all the jobs. Anythhng that

gives more power to us and less to the politicians would be great.

gives more power to us and less to the politicians would be grdat. Does

the politicians would be great. Does that do that, if you are passing it

from central government the mayor? Well, that is the challenge. Do we

trust the mayor more than the MPs? You are leaving that hanging. Try

and answering! The jury is out. But the claim from government today is

that this could lead to higher taxes .

So, he has eyed the prize. The case has been made, that the argtment

So, he has eyed the prize. The case has been made, that the argument is

yet to be won. Latest figures show that two thirds

of Londoners waiting for an organ transplant are

from black and Asian communities. Now a campaign has been launched to

encourage more people from ethnic minorities to donate their organs.

The mother of Mark Duggan, whose shooting

by police sparked the London riots in 2011, has been to the High Court

to challenge the inquest verdict into her son's death.

It concluded that the 29`year`old had been ?lawfully

the 29`year`old had been ?l`wfully killed?, but the family's lawyers

killed?, but the family's l`wyers believe the jury was misdirected

killed?, but the family's lawyers believe the jury was misdirdcted and

believe the jury was misdirected and the verdict should be overttrned.

the verdict should be overturned. Despite cycling's growing popularity

in London, concerns over safety still remain.

Last year, 14 cyclists were killed on the capital's roads.

This year, six have died. The most recent death was

at a notorious junction ` Vauxhall at a notorious junction ` V`uxhall

Gyratory, where ambitious plans have been unveiled to make it safer.

Our Transport Correspondent, Tom Edwards reports.

Vauxhall dry directory is one of the worst junctions in London for

cyclists and pedestrians `` Vauxhall directory. It is a key route going

from north to south. Just l`st from north to south. Just l`st

month, a cyclist died here. It is awful, very dangerous. It is a bit

tricky. Now the plan is to change it from this, to this. Under that

bridge, coming across here and then bridge, coming across here and then

round onto Vauxhall Bridge, so you will be able to cycle in both

directions in a protected l`ne, directions in a protected lane,

right through the directory without having to deal with traffic. The

proposals the great `` segregates proposals the great `` segregates

cyclists, borrowing ideas from Holland, part of a new cycle

superhighway number five. This is just the start of some long awaited

changes to London's streets. Because this is the first junction to be

redone, it will come under huge scrutiny, both from cyclists and

also from motorists, who fear scrutiny, both from cyclists and

also from motorists, who fe`r it also from motorists, who fear it

will increase congestion. The amount of road space we are removing is

tiny. It is necessary, becatse 000 tiny. It is necessary, because 3000

likely is now used this junction and it is one of the most deadly

likely is now used this junction and it is one of the most deadlx in

it is one of the most deadly in London. So far, most campaigners

have welcomed the plans, although there is frustration at the rate of

change. I think TfL needs to do a bit of thinking around the central

area in Vauxhall. There is a bit of area in Vauxhall. There is a bit of

conflict there. Few cyclists will regard that as tricky, but overall,

a huge improvement on anythhng planned four years ago. It is

planned four years ago. It hs difficult in terms of engineering,

but not impossible, and we need that work to crack on so that we can

start creating a genuine pedestrian and cycle friendly environmdnt

start creating a genuine pedestrian and cycle friendly environment in

London. The consultation closes in September. Work could start by then

of the year. This might be the start of big changes on the capit`l's

of big changes on the capital's streets, although the transformation

could take many years. Now the weather.

It has been a windy day tod`y. Now the weather.

It has been a windy day today. It It has been a windy day tod`y. It

will not be as windy tomorrow, but sunshine will be hard to find and we

could get some showery burst of rain. At the moment am a things

could get some showery burst of rain. At the moment am a thhngs are

fairly dry and quiet. We will find the cloud increasing

Tomorrow, little or no sunshine really. We are more likely to have

cloud and showery burst of rain. really. We are more likely to have

cloud and showery burst of rain The cloud and showery burst of rain The

rain will probably turn heavier later in the day. Still a bht

later in the day. Still a bit breezy, the wind coming frol the

breezy, the wind coming from the north. We have a wet start to

Friday. It turns dry in the afternoon. The weekend will be warm

and humid, with heavy and under in showers.

Today has been the quietest weather day of this week. We had 24 Celsius

in Carlisle in the sunshine. It did struggle on the North Sea coast with

the wind, but you can see two weather fronts advancing in under

the mass of cloud. Our window for fine weather will diminish overnight

stop it has been windy. North Sea Gales, and that wind continues

overnight. Patchy rain for Northern Ireland, but under the clear skies,

still scope for single figures in the countryside. A bit of mist and

fog as well in the Scottish glens. But for many central and eastern

areas, distinctly more cloud than today. Similarly so in the north and

west. It will bring drizzly showers to parts of south-west England,

particularly Cornwall. The further east you are, the better chance you

have of staying warm and dry. More cloud for Northern Ireland compared

with today. At the other sharp burst of rain here. Western