Latest News
- Zelenskyy demands full EU membership as Hungary blocks Ukraine’s accession
- Britain, bills and the bottleneck at Hormuz
- Woman in court over death of teen attacked by XL Bully dog | News UK
- US issues shoot-to-kill order against Iranian boats in Strait of Hormuz
- Police detain alleged Pahlavi perpetrator
- Day Three of Tube Strike Sees 4,000 Cyclists on Embankment in Just Hours
- Italian police arrest 35 members of Sicilian Cosa Nostra in major crackdown
- Airlines cancel thousands of flights as EU faces jet fuel shortages
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Zelenskyy demands full EU membership as Hungary blocks Ukraine’s accession
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Zelenskyy demands full EU membership as Hungary blocks Ukraine’s accession
EU Accession Focus
Ukraine’s EU accession is stalled due to Hungary’s veto, as the country blocks the opening of negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Ukraine’s EU accession is stalled due to Hungary’s veto, as the country blocks the opening of negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Impact on Membership
Ukraine’s full EU membership remains a priority, with ongoing obstacles due to Hungary’s veto, highlighting the urgency of resolving this deadlock for the nation’s integration aspirations.
Ukraine’s full EU membership remains a priority, with ongoing obstacles due to Hungary’s veto, highlighting the urgency of resolving this deadlock for the nation’s integration aspirations.
Zelenskyy’s Stance
“I do not support symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
“I do not support symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
Key developments
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised the need for full EU membership, asserting that Ukraine requires substantial integration, not mere symbolic participation within the bloc.
Negotiations around Ukraine’s EU accession have stalled due to Hungary’s continued veto, which has hindered the opening of any negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, suggested a potential “fresh start” in the EU accession talks, although many leaders caution against expediting the process without fulfilling membership criteria.
Ukraine needs full not symbolic membership in the EU, Zelenskyy says
With a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a new round of sanctions against Russia now unblocked and finally approved, the focus at an informal summit in Cyprus is rapidly shifting to Hungary’s long-standing veto on Kyiv’s EU accession amid hopes of using political momentum in Budapest as a new government prepares to take office.
But Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted on Thursday that what Ukraine needs is full membership and not any kind of partial participation.
Speaking with the reporters on the presidential WhatsApp chat on his way to Cyprus, Zelenskyy rejected the idea of partial EU membership for Ukraine, saying “Ukraine does not need symbolic membership in the EU.”
“Ukraine is defending itself and is definitely defending Europe. And it is not defending Europe symbolically – people are really dying.”
He said Ukraine is defending “shared European values” and therefore believes the country deserves full membership in the 27-strong bloc of countries.
He admitted that there are discussions taking place on “different levels” regarding “various possible formats of Ukraine’s membership in the EU.”
“I want to thank all our partners, all leaders of the European Union: Germany, France, Poland, Romania, and all countries that truly support Ukraine’s fast-track membership in the European Union and are looking for ways to accelerate it. But here I would like to say: let’s be fair.”
“I would like to warn, first of all, our Ukrainian institutions: please do not look for symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. I do not support this. The people do not support it. What matters most is our people. We have already had enough symbolic unions – Budapest Memoranda, symbolic security guarantees, NATO, a symbolic path to NATO. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
Ukraine’s EU accession has been at a standstill since July 2024, when Hungary took over the six-month presidency of the EU Council and made clear that Kyiv would not open a single negotiation cluster during the rotation.
Outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has since continued to block the opening of clusters, keeping the process in deadlock.
In a joint statement with Zelenskyy and the president of the European Commission upon arrival at the Cyprus summit, European Council President António Costa said by unblocking the €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the new round of sanctions against Russia the EU took “two very important steps in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
“Now it’s time to look forward and to prepare the next step, and the next step is to open the first cluster of negotiations for the Ukrainian accession to the European Union.”
“We delivered on these two steps and we will deliver in the next step,” Costa insisted.
Fresh start for Ukraine
Speaking with EU News as EU leaders were gathering in Cyprus, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal said there is a chance for a “fresh start” in the EU accession process or Ukraine.
“So it will mean that you can start again and to be honest I cannot see any other way than Ukraine’s future is in Europe. That is definitely so. That will mean that the question is only when, not if and how,” he said.
Many EU leaders opposed what is often referred to as the “fast-tracked” process for Ukrainian membership, warning against any shortcuts.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden said Ukraine belongs in the EU family, but stressed that it must first meet the bloc’s membership conditions.
“There are no shortcuts,” he said, adding that the “EU must continue to function on its fundamental values.”
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said “It’s not realistic for Ukraine to join the EU short-term.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration told EU News on Wednesday that Kyiv wants to proceed by the books, but without delays.
Commenting on the possible timeline Taras Kachka said: “I hope that this year we will hear that certain chapters can be treated as closed. That also brings the possibility next year to talk about broad integration into the internal market. Maybe, who knows, that things can be really fast, and next year we will close all chapters, and then we can talk about the treaty of accession.”
Britain, bills and the bottleneck at Hormuz
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The week’s mood has turned on price, pressure and the thin stretch of water the world keeps pretending it can take for granted. Inflation in the UK has picked up again, petrol has done the shoving, and the cost-of-living story ministers thought they had half-tamed is back in the room. At the same time, shipping tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have hardened from threat to action, with vessels seized and markets reminded that supply chains are not abstract things but steel, fuel and time.
There is, too, that peculiarly British contrast between the grand and the domestic. One minute ministers are talking energy security, ceasefires and international law; the next, households are staring at bills and motorists are counting the cost in forecourts rather than policy papers.
The weather, at least, is in a kinder mood: London, Cardiff and Belfast are set fair to pleasantly warm through the weekend, while Edinburgh stays cooler but brighter, and the Met Office says there are no UK weather warnings in force for the coming days. Yipee!
And because a briefing should not end its opening on a grim note, here is one properly cheering thing: Good News highlighted this week that Helsinki has opened the world’s longest bridge for cyclists and trains, while another recent round-up pointed to CAR-T cell therapy offering hope for severe autoimmune diseases. Not salvation, not utopia, just the useful reminder that progress still happens while politicians are busy shouting at each other, pretending to look useful and busy.
So what has the PM been up to?
PM WATCH: Keir Starmer’s week has been shaped less by a clean political message than by damage control. The biggest mark against him remains Peter Mandelson: in a Commons statement on 20 April, Starmer said he “should not have appointed Peter Mandelson”, took responsibility for the decision and apologised.
Alongside that, Downing Street has tried to keep the government looking active and outward-facing. Starmer co-chaired an international summit on the Strait of Hormuz with President Macron on 17 April, backing freedom of navigation, international law and energy security, and this week he also met Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, stressing support for the ECHR, rule of law and accountability for atrocities in Ukraine, which has Reform UK chomping at the bits.
The fallout has been mixed at best. The Mandelson row is still landing heavy blows, Kemi Badenoch is wagging at the tail and won’t let go: the Financial Times reported that Starmer was challenged in cabinet over his handling of the affair, after already facing wider criticism over the scandal.
Today’s Main Headlines
1) Inflation bites again
UK inflation rose to 3.3 per cent in March, driven by petrol and food, putting fresh pressure on the Bank of England before next week’s rates meeting. In the newsletter hierarchy, this is the clearest domestic lead because it lands directly on household budgets and economic credibility.
2) Hormuz is no longer just a warning light
Iran’s reported seizure of two container ships has pushed the Strait of Hormuz back to the top of the global risk map. What had been a market anxiety is now a live shipping and energy story.
3) Europe’s energy nerves are showing
The wider energy shock bluntly: from gas reserves to fertiliser costs, Europe is treating the Iran war as a crisis with echoes of 1973 and 2022. The UK is not insulated from that.
4) The Druzhba pipeline is political as well as physical
The deeper geopolitical treatment: Ukraine’s reopening of its section of the Druzhba pipeline appears to remove a key obstacle to a major EU loan for Kyiv, while exposing how closely infrastructure, veto politics and wartime financing are now tied.
5) Starmer is still carrying Mandelson
Even with inflation and war dominating the wider picture, the PM remains politically exposed at home. The scandal has not dropped out of view simply because bigger stories arrived.
Featured story — Hormuz, because that is where the pressure sits
Everyone is telling you, by placement and depth, that Hormuz is the story sitting behind several others. One makes it a top line; the other gives it the fuller geopolitical treatment. That is usually the right signal for a featured item.
The key facts are clear. Iranian forces fired on three cargo ships on Wednesday and seized two of them, while Trump extended the ceasefire without setting a deadline and peace talks were postponed. The immediate consequence is not only military tension but renewed pressure on one of the world’s most important shipping arteries. That matters because Hormuz is not merely about oil headlines. It reaches into fuel, fertiliser, freight, food prices and confidence.
This is where the UK story meets the global one. The inflation is the lead, in effect, the domestic expression of the same wider shock. Petrol surges first, then transport costs, then the broader feeling that whatever progress had been made on prices can be quickly undone by events far from Westminster. In some ways it is the same old story, that the world is unstable, but that instability is once again being invoiced to the public.
Politician’s need to make more noise if they are to distract you from that bitter pill.
Weather outlook — Five-day weather scan
London: brighter and warmer as the week goes on, with sunshine dominant from Thursday to Saturday and highs rising from 16C to 22C, before easing back slightly on Sunday.
Edinburgh: cooler than the south but improving, with sunshine and highs moving from 10C to 18C by Friday before settling in the mid-teens over the weekend.
Cardiff: mild to warm, breezy at times, and broadly settled, with highs around 17C to 21C.
Belfast: a quieter run, with partial sunshine and temperatures climbing from 14C to 19C before dipping slightly.
What to watch
- Cabinet Office questions and Business Questions are scheduled in the Commons on 23 April, keeping domestic political scrutiny live after PMQs.
- The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill returns to the Lords on 23 April, one of the clearer pieces of parliamentary business to watch in the next 24 hours. Scotts, this one impacts you.
- Looking ahead, the Commons schedule shows DWP questions on 27 April, Treasury questions on 28 April and the next Prime Minister’s Question Time on 29 April.
Espresso for …
We are in an economic and domestic disaster made in Tel Aviv: inflation, wages, taxes are the household strain. The second is geopolitical and strategic: pipelines, vetoes, shipping lanes and leverage. Put them together and the line becomes obvious enough without forcing it: Britain’s politics this week is being shaped by Trump and Netanyahu, questioning ‘how special is our relation with the Yanks?’
The government can argue, fairly enough, that some of this is imported. But the public does not experience imported inflation as a theory. It experiences it at the pump, on bills and in the creeping sense that every improvement is provisional. So perhaps the government needs to stop making noise and take actions that soften the blow to the consumer at the till, not big business, who technically have profited from this crisis.
This week’s most popular tweets
Top Sporting Moment: Man City vs. Arsenal
The Tweet: The official @ManCity account’s post, “Ok I like it, Picasso!”—featuring a clip of the footballers dream, getting out of a tight spot, whilst megging a player—is currently the most liked and shared post in the UK for the week.
Top News Tweet: COBRA Emergency Meeting
As of Thursday, April 23, a significant “breaking news” tweet is rapidly gaining traction following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to chair an emergency COBRA meeting.
Notable Mention: Royal Family Statement
The Prince and Princess of Wales also generated significant engagement on April 23 after releasing a rare public statement via a Kensington Palace spokesperson regarding the latest Epstein file revelations.
Iran done Trump dirty
Last but not least Trump is not just losing the perception of winning in Iran, he is also being pummelled on social media, the Iranians just delivered a knock-out blow. Will we see Trump in a rap battle!
Woman in court over death of teen attacked by XL Bully dog | News UK
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Get you up to speed: Woman in court over death of teen attacked by XL Bully dog | News UK
COURT CASE
Kelcie Reed, 24, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on charges relating to the death of her cousin Morgan Dorsett, fatally injured by an XL bully dog.
Kelcie Reed, 24, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on charges relating to the death of her cousin Morgan Dorsett, fatally injured by an XL bully dog.
COURT PROCEEDINGS
District Judge Lynne Matthews has adjourned the case of Kelcie Reed, who faces charges related to the death of Morgan Dorsett, to Bristol Crown Court on May 27.
District Judge Lynne Matthews has adjourned the case of Kelcie Reed, who faces charges related to the death of Morgan Dorsett, to Bristol Crown Court on May 27.
CURRENT STATUS
Kelcie Reed is on conditional bail, prohibited from owning any dog, and is scheduled to appear in Bristol Crown Court on May 27.
Kelcie Reed is on conditional bail, prohibited from owning any dog, and is scheduled to appear in Bristol Crown Court on May 27.
What we know so far
A woman has appeared in court over the death of her teenage cousin who was mauled by an XL bully. Kelcie Reed, 24, attended Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, leading to injury resulting in death.
It is alleged that the dog, named Prince, fatally injured 19-year-old Morgan Dorsett inside a flat in Withywood, Bristol, on 26 February last year. Dorsett succumbed to severe bites to her neck during the incident, after which the dog was euthanised.
During the proceedings, Reed wept as District Judge Lynne Matthews read the charge. She did not enter a plea, and the case has been adjourned for a further hearing at Bristol Crown Court on 27 May. The judge imposed bail conditions prohibiting Reed from owning or controlling any dog until her next court appearance.
Read in full
Woman appears in court over death of teenager mauled by XL bully | News UK
A woman has appeared in court over the death of her teenage cousin who was mauled by an XL bully.
Kelcie Reed, 24, attended Bristol Magistrates’ Court accused of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death.
It is alleged that the dog, an XL bully named Prince, fatally injured Morgan Dorsett, 19, inside a flat at Cobhorn Drive, Withywood, Bristol, on February 26 last year.
Ms Dorsett suffered fatal bites to her neck during the incident.
The dog was put down afterwards.
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Reed, of Bristol, wept as the charge was read to her by District Judge Lynne Matthews on Thursday morning.
She did not enter a plea to the charge against her and the case was adjourned to Bristol Crown Court.
The judge said: ‘I send you now to the crown court at Bristol where you must appear on May 27.
‘Between now and then, you are on conditional bail.’
The bail conditions state that Reed must not own or be in control of any dog, under any circumstances.
Reed will next appear before Bristol Crown Court on May 27.
US issues shoot-to-kill order against Iranian boats in Strait of Hormuz
3:00 pm
Get you up to speed: US issues shoot-to-kill order against Iranian boats in Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order against Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He announced that American minesweepers were clearing the Strait, which has been effectively shut off to maritime traffic since the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran in February.
President Donald Trump has issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order for Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, instructing the US Navy to act decisively against such threats. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the recent departure of US Navy Secretary John Phelan is believed to be related to the ongoing blockade in the Strait.
Donald Trump has instructed the US Navy to target Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and announced that American minesweepers are currently clearing the waterway. This directive follows an escalation in tensions, demonstrated by Iran’s recent attack on three cargo ships in the Strait.
Donald Trump issues ‘shoot to kill’ order for Iranian boats laying mines | News World
Many ship captains are fearful of hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz (Picture: REUTERS)
Donald Trump has issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order against Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, the US President said he had instructed the US Navy to target any boat that is putting mines in the blockaded waterway.
Breaking News: Police detain alleged Pahlavi perpetrator
He also announced that American minesweepers were clearing the Strait, which has been effectively shut off to maritime traffic since the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran in February.
‘I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (their naval ships are all, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,’ he wrote.
‘There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our ‘mine sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now.’
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The order came hours after the US military had seized another tanker associated with smuggling Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean.
On Wednesday, Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.
Trump’s harsh rhetoric against ships in the Strait marks a change in attitude after the firing of his Navy Chief this week.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan is the latest high-ranking military leader to leave the administration in recent months.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, this departure will take effect ‘immediately’. It’s believed to be linked to the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
This a a breaking news story and is being updated.
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Police detain alleged Pahlavi perpetrator
2:00 pm
Police detain alleged Pahlavi perpetrator and hide his identity under German privacy laws
Perpetrator Detained
The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police.
The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police.
Legal Compliance
The suspect allegedly attacked Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and splattered him with red liquid in Berlin.
Police Response
“The alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by police,” confirmed authorities, adhering to established German privacy regulations.
“The alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by police,” confirmed authorities, adhering to established German privacy regulations.
The crooks of the matter; Reza Pahlavi splattered with red liquid in Berlin
A German man has been arrested for allegedly attacking the exiled self-proclaimed ‘Shah of Iran’ for attacking him with a red liquid.
The alleged perpetrator was detained by police promptly following the incident, outside a press conference in Berlin, without leaking his identity in accordance with German privacy regulations that prevent the disclosure of the individual’s identity.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the event, aiming to gather more detailed evidence to ascertain the motives and actions involved in the case.
in Iran this news has been celebrated, with Iranians holding up pictures of Reza Pahlavi with devil horns on it.
It begs the question, of actually how popular his comeback is, outside Israel, very few Persians support his renaissance.
Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi splattered with red liquid in Berlin
The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police. The German Police said the liquid appeared to be tomato juice
The attack was in connection to his public stance against the Iranian government and supporting the genocidal regime in Israel and welcoming the destruction of Iran.
French Journalists at his press conference seemed to strike a nerve when they CALLED OUT Reza Pahlavi for pushing for Military Intervention in Iran. This Israeli and American attacks have resulted in 3,375 killed civilians and $270 BILLION in infrastructure damage. Not to mention the massive rise in the cost of goods and a global energy crisis. The ‘Prince’ was perturbed by the question and asked his PR agent to move on to the next question.
Reza Pahlavi is the self proclaimed Prince of Iran, the son of the former Shah of Iran who was deposed and exiled in France. His allegiance to Israel has had him challenged by Iranians who refer to him as the treacherous Prince.
When asked Reza Pahlavi could not understand why he is not being welcomed by Iranian’s back to Iran.
Day Three of Tube Strike Sees 4,000 Cyclists on Embankment in Just Hours
12:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Day Three of Tube Strike Sees 4,000 Cyclists on Embankment in Just Hours
TRANSPORT STRIKE
London Underground drivers from the RMT union continue their strike into its third day, causing significant commuting disruptions across the capital.
London Underground drivers from the RMT union continue their strike into its third day, causing significant commuting disruptions across the capital.
CYCLING SURGE
Simon Munk from the London Cycling Campaign reported that cycling numbers during the Tube strike surged, indicating a growing trend for urban cycling in London.
Simon Munk from the London Cycling Campaign reported that cycling numbers during the Tube strike surged, indicating a growing trend for urban cycling in London.
TUBE STRIKE STATUS
As of 12pm, the London Underground drivers’ strike continues for an additional 24 hours, with disruptions expected to persist until tomorrow evening.
As of 12pm, the London Underground drivers’ strike continues for an additional 24 hours, with disruptions expected to persist until tomorrow evening.
What we know so far
The London Underground drivers’ strike has now reached its third day, significantly impacting commuting patterns across the capital. Tube drivers represented by the RMT union have organised walkouts in waves, causing considerable disruption for passengers.
The current phase of strikes began at midday and will continue for 24 hours, with additional disruptions expected to linger into the evening of the following day. Commuters are adapting to the situation by utilising alternative transportation methods, notably cycling.
By 8:45 am, the cyclist tally on the Embankment displayed over 3,800 riders, a significant increase from the usual daily figure of around 252. This surge underscores a shift in transportation habits, as Londoners appear to be embracing cycling amid the Tube disruptions.
Companies like Lime and Forest have stepped up operations to meet this increased demand, deploying extra teams to manage bike availability and ensure pathways remain clear. However, concerns about improperly parked bikes persist, with some areas still experiencing congestion.
As the city prepares for the upcoming London Marathon, further road closures are anticipated, adding another layer of complexity to commuting this week. Roads such as Birdcage Walk and Victoria Embankment will be closed at various times, requiring commuters to plan their routes accordingly.
Read in full
Tube strike day three sees 4,000 cyclists across Embankment within hours | News UK
The London Underground drivers’ strike has entered its third day, turning the capital into a city of strikelists as people saddle up.
Commuters have endured almost three days of strikes, which have come and gone in waves as Tube drivers who are members of the RMT union walk out.
The next round of strikes started from 12pm, rolling on for the next 24 hours before the industrial action officially ends, although disruption is expected to trickle on until tomorrow evening.
Londoners have shown yet again that not even a sweeping Tube strike can slow them down, with thousands of strikelists hitting the road again this morning.
Follow WTX’s live coverage of the Tube strikes here
By 8.45am, the cyclist tally on the Embankment display stood at 3,810, meaning nearly 4,000 riders had passed the spot within hours.
On an average day outside the strikes, around 252 cyclists ride past it.
What about road etiquette during the strikes?
Strikelists – and cyclists – in London have been accused of selfish and risky behaviour, but when WTX joined a steady flow of riders from east London to Kensington, there was no sign of dangerous riding.
How do you travel during the strike?
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Tried to avoid it by working from home
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Elizabeth line, Overground or rail
On the contrary, it seemed more cyclists than usual stopped diligently at red lights between Tower Hill and Buckingham Palace during rush hour.
Several riders, including people on rental e-bikes, wore helmets.
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital, visit WTX’s London news hub.
The sight of e-bikes scattered on pavements has become a quintessentially London nuisance, and there have been some hotspots where badly parked rides have build up like near Westminster and Kensington High Street.
However, WTX saw several on-street teams from Lime and Forest sorting out parked bikes, changing batteries and loading up extra ones into a van to distribute them to other locations.
The companies have been previously criticised for badly parked bikes blocking pavements.
Lime told WTX that it has stepped up operations during the strike, including more foot patrols and drivers on standby to keep high-demand hotspots clear.
Forest’s head of policy, Alex Berwin, told WTX that its battery swappers are using pedal-powered cargo bikes to navigate congestion more easily, improving the availability of bikes during rush hour.
Santander bikes appeared to be popular today, with many docking stations in east London empty while central London commuter and tourist hotspots were full to the brim with parked bikes.
Simon Munk, from the London Cycling Campaign, told WTX: ‘We are seeing the numbers going up from the strike and people cycling, and we are seeing a lot of cycle tracks at over capacity.
‘Our learning from the two strikes now is that a lot of our cycle routes and particularly the tracks in central London, but outside central as well, are way out over capacity on an average day.
‘There are 1.5 million cycle journeys daily now.
‘Places like the Embankment and Blackfriars are over capacity on an average day, and then you throw on a lot more folks who are cycling because of the strike, and you can see the routes are over capacity.
‘The strikes show what the future of a cycling London looks like – these are the kinds of levels of cycling we should be expecting on average in a couple of years.’
However, if you are riding around central London, some roads like The Mall have begun to close for the London Marathon preparation.
The cycle lane and road on Birdcage Walk will be closed eastbound from 6am tomorrow (Friday) and westbound from 6am on Saturday until 6am on Monday for the 2026 marathon.
Victoria Embankment and Parliament Square will be closed from 7.30am until 10pm on the Sunday race day.
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