Kamran Balayev

International risk & business consultant | Ex-mayoral candidate | Championing a pro-business London📈 with zero tolerance for knife crime🛡️| @Conservatives

[Kamran Balayev @Kam4London]

Sharing my latest article on AI and the UK’s role in shaping the future of innovation and responsible adoption. Please take a read and feel free to share with others who may find it interesting 👇

[ConservativeHome @ConHome]

From @Kam4London: Why the world needs Conservative statecraft to navigate the AI age https://t.co/oVbQgMOdfa

[Paul Swaddle @paulswaddle]

High property values do not always translate into high household incomes. That's why I've joined three other council leaders in writing to the Chancellor over the new "mansion tax," which risks hitting residents who simply can't afford it. #WestminsterMatters #Westminster #CityThatWorksForAll Full story: https://t.co/R57TdMkX5E

[Timothy Barnes @VoteTimBarnes]

Different times for different streets in Soho and elsewhere in Westminster, but yes to the principle.

Berwick Street is currently close 7am to 7.30pm, for example. Allows for the market.

Should also allow for more tables and chairs outside in the afternoon and evening that at present, too. Working on that.

[Paul Swaddle @paulswaddle]

Let's be straight about what's actually happening here: the Mayor has helped spread a false story about a "standing ban" that never existed, right as he's pushing for new powers to take control of licensing decisions from councils like ours.
#WestminsterMatters #Westminster #CityThatWorksForAll Full story: https://t.co/JQnXTDKRht

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

Grosvenor Gardens, near Victoria, has become a flashpoint for rough sleeping and the anti-social behaviour that can follow it, real concerns for local shops and businesses.

Cllr Caroline Sargent: Westminster spends £8m a year helping people off the streets, but "this is totally unacceptable in the heart of a capital city."

PM Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping. We're calling on him to back that with real Home Office support.

Full story: https://t.co/Im9NJlsdAP #WestminsterMatters #Westminster #CityThatWorksForAll #SafeStreets

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

Cllr Tim Barnes @voteTimBarnes on @BBCLondonNews asked if he feels bullied by the Mayor over the Soho licensing row: "Not sure I'd necessarily call it bullying. I don't feel bullied. I feel exhausted by having to explain that a policy that was put forward as being true isn't true, never has been."

Full story: https://t.co/4dJAsUxd3U #WestminsterMatters #Westminster #CityThatWorksForAll

[Andrew Griffith MP @griffitha]

We won’t know Andy Burnham’s plans for our economy for almost three months.

It means businesses will postpone decisions.

Hiring will be paused.

Investment will be lost.

The new Chancellor is making exactly the same mistakes as Rachel Reeves.

[Timothy Barnes @VoteTimBarnes]

To be fair, we've all been arguing for that.

If the Mayor sorted late night busses and tubes and gave @metpoliceuk the resources they have asked for, we would all be able to enjoy going out more.

Here's me saying that on @BBCLondonNews last night.

[Paul Fisher @PaulEFishr]

I love pubs. There is no ban on new licences if pubs don’t ‘ban’ standing. This is objectively wrong. It’s not what the policy under consultation says. Any policy to that effect would be illegal in any event. I’m not sure I can communicate this any more clearly.

[Lorraine Dean @Lorraine__Dean]

Bumped into @LM_Westminster at the excellent Westbourne Park Baptist church. @emgpolitical and I saw the food pantry which helps 160 residents a week. They also run a stay and play session for 0-4yrs in term time and a HAF holiday scheme during school holidays with a cooked lunch

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

Let's be clear about what this is actually about: safety, not stopping anyone standing at the bar with a pint in their hand.

Westminster Conservatives will never allow this city to become one where people can't go out and enjoy a drink while standing.

Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, Cllr Tim Barnes, set the record straight on LBC:

https://t.co/g5CNhWSmZZ

[Leader of Westminster City Council @Leader_WCC]

Want to know how the council spends public money?

We've launched a new Transparency Hub where residents can easily access council spending and financial information in one place.

It's part of our commitment to being open about how decisions are made and helping residents see how we're delivering value for money across Westminster: https://t.co/vcVZz0R6mK

🎥 Watch Cllr Fisher explain more.

[Paul Fisher @PaulEFishr]

Nothing to see here. Just the Mayor’s office actively spreading misinformation... there will be no ‘ban’ on standing with a pint in your hand in the West End.
Obviously, because that would be stupid. Go out and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that this is rubbish.

[Timothy Barnes @VoteTimBarnes]

Here I am. In a pub. Standing. As is the way.

[Timothy Barnes @VoteTimBarnes]

Agreed.

Sadly, the article this is based on is carrying a key flaw.

It's untrue.

There is no plan to ban standing in a pub having a drink.

https://t.co/mbCxK57xNq

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

"Are you banning pavement pints? No!" says Cllr Tim Barnes on LBC https://t.co/OwHGe3eezz

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

Some reports claimed Westminster is banning pavement pints. We put it to Cllr Tim Barnes live on LBC.
His answer took one word: “No.”
Pavement pints aren’t going anywhere. 🍺 #Westminster

https://t.co/9vtdrSKDQo

[Westminster Matters @westminstertory]

Cllr Tim Barnes on LBC: refreshing our licensing policy is a legal requirement every 5 years, wording barely changed.
“We haven’t been banning people from standing up in pubs over the last 10 years. No plan to start.”
Full story https://t.co/9vtdrSKDQo
#Westminster

[Westminster City Council @CityWestminster]

Westminster is famous for its fantastic bars & clubs - and we're consulting on how we can ensure as many people as possible enjoy our nightlife in safety. Ignore nonsense headlines about us banning "vertical" drinking - we love our visitors if they are standing or sitting!

Take part in the consultation: https://t.co/QaCRHUImCW

[Timothy Barnes @VoteTimBarnes]

*Westminster City Council is NOT planning to stop you from standing up in the pub*

This morning, The Guardian published a story that they know to be untrue. The basic theme is that @CityWestminster plans to ban people from standing up in a pub. This is untrue. They had asked us for a comment and we sent them a direct answer. They made a decision to use a tiny portion of it. Critically, they didn't use the part where I clearly stated their main point was untrue so I am sharing the complete text we sent to them.

Sadly, even before publication, it was clear that this was part of a politically-motivated campaign and the line they were taken was deliberately and knowingly mis-leading. We suggested that ahead of publication and it turned out to be the case.

This is a clear example of a major UK newspaper being more interested in promoting the interests of one political party over the truth and doing so when the facts had been clearly explained to them, and that was ignored.

The added irony is that the photo they chose to use was of a close friend of mine taken about five minutes before I arrived to begin a couple of hours of standing up while drinking. They came pretty close to having me illustrate the story, which is an irony that should not be lost in anyone.

We are investigating our options for a formal complaint with The Guardian.

Here is The Guardian's false story:
https://t.co/wJq1XRepeq

Below is what we sent them, in full, from which they pulled the tiny quote from me at the end of their piece, which is not reflective of the core message of my comments:

Cllr Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, said:

"It is utterly ludicrous to suggest the Council is planning to "ban" people standing up in pubs. Suggesting otherwise is a wilful misreading of the policy proposals with clauses taken out of context.

"We want people to go out in the West End and have a good time. Our guidance is simply about encouraging venues to manage their customers so people don't pack onto pavements or excessive drinking doesn't disturb others passing by.

"The Cumulative Impact Zone is recognised as an area that has a high concentration of activity and particular policies exist for that in Westminster and the Mayor’s London-wider planning. There is a legal obligation to look at every application on its merits and we do just that, meaning we see new venues opening all the time. Again, there is little change here from the policy of previous administrations and we have seen new pubs and fast-food outlets open recently including a license extension for the McDonald's on Leicester Square, which will now be open 24 hours despite objections from the Mayor’s police representatives.

"We are the country's largest planning authority with some 4,000 licensed venues. We reject less than 1.5% of license applications and there is a strong desire to see thriving, profitable, venues across Westminster.

"As we have made clear we are happy to work with the Mayor of London on licensing and have just launched our own campaign to promote nights out in Soho."

[Lorraine Dean @Lorraine__Dean]

It was lovely to join residents of Beechcroft House care home in Shirland Road for their summer BBQ. Lots of dancing, singing and good food. @emgpolitical and I were delighted to join in the fun and had lots of great conversations with residents and staff.