Alys Key

Editor @_TheLondoner | Founder of UK 2.0, a newsletter about tech & politics in Britain 📩 | Header @dancoxdesign

[Alys Key @alys_key]

I've just shared some of my favourite pieces of writing about argument and debate. Links to each in the thread below.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Just remembered that David Cameron came back to be Foreign Secretary for five minutes. What was that all about? It's very The Diplomat end-of-episode twist.

[The Londoner @_TheLondoner]

London’s oldest biker café keeps closing because of... bikers

Youngsters have been congregating outside the Ace Cafe on Friday nights, performing wheelies and burnouts. Who should be responsible for policing the gatherings?
https://t.co/H3dGnfCw0O

[“paula” @paularambles]

fun fact: the wing’s sf location has been perfectly preserved, like a little pompeii of 2019 girlboss culture

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Update: The Charity Commission confirms it has escalated its probe to the level of a statutory inquiry.

Inquiry will look at decision-making around finances including loans, whether charitable property is at risk, and if governance arrangements are fit for purpose.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Excl: The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into The House of St Barnabas-in-Soho, which was set to become the London branch of The Explorers Club of New York, amid a falling out between directors and a standoff over the building https://t.co/KGhMW1PQEK

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Getting ready to head to the UK Tech Awards, where I'm shortlisted for Commentator of the Year for my work on UK 2.0!

[Alys Key @alys_key]

In @_TheLondoner today, we picked our favourite places to meet friends after work in central London — that don't require jostling with crowds or booking weeks ahead.

Let me know what you think of my choices 👀 https://t.co/tCNgR7bsop

[The Londoner @_TheLondoner]

The British Library is planning to shut three reading rooms to turn them into WeWork-style coworking spaces.

It's the latest crisis after disastrous hacks, torrid finances and four CEOs in two years. We found out what's been happening on the inside.

https://t.co/um6D8hfBKs

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Ads in other tube stations: take some vitamins :) book Jersey Boys tickets for your mum :)

Ads in Westminster: WE MAKE THE BIGGEST DRONES. BRITAIN WILL PROSPER WITH TOKENIZED GOLD. TEENS ARE TOTALLY SAFE ON OUR PLATFORM.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

This was a tricky one to write up because it involves lots of corporate filings — including, confusingly, two companies with almost the same name.

Fortunately, the NYC club has rather a colourful history which helped to bring it to life.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Excl: The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into The House of St Barnabas-in-Soho, which was set to become the London branch of The Explorers Club of New York, amid a falling out between directors and a standoff over the building https://t.co/KGhMW1PQEK

[Alys Key @alys_key]

For @_TheLondoner today, I've reported on what we know so far ahead of a possession hearing next week, and exclusively revealed that the Charity Commission has opened a compliance case looking into the charity. https://t.co/KGhMW1PiPc

[Alys Key @alys_key]

This was what greeted me when I went down to 1 Greek Street (a.k.a the House of Charity, or the House of St Barnabas) yesterday.

I was trying to establish who the security holding the building were working for. They wouldn't tell me. 🧵

[Alys Key @alys_key]

But then things unravelled between The Explorers Club HQ and the Brits driving the London project have fractured, resulting in a standoff over the building, allegations of hacking and the involvement of the charities regulator.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Excl: The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into The House of St Barnabas-in-Soho, which was set to become the London branch of The Explorers Club of New York, amid a falling out between directors and a standoff over the building https://t.co/KGhMW1PQEK

[Alys Key @alys_key]

https://t.co/6He8bJebTO

[Alys Key @alys_key]

Still baffled by this case. Every time @PeterCarlyon4 thought he'd found who should fix it, they'd point the finger elsewhere.

"Oh, it's the council's responsibility" "it's the landowner's" "it's Network Rail's". Nobody would step up — so there's still sewage in the street.

[The Londoner @_TheLondoner]

For four years, raw sewage has been leaking into a street in Croydon. Children have fallen into the toxic liquid and local residents are furious that nothing has been done.

In today’s piece, we ask who’s responsible ⬇️

[Alys Key @alys_key]

@alixwiessser Went through a phase of reading a lot along the lines of what you're describing: The Odyssey by Lara Williams, Everything You Ever Wanted by Luiza Sauma, The Employees by Olga Raven, The End We Start From by Megan Hunter. All v strange, some more satisfying than others.

[Andrew Kersley @AndrewKersley]

For weeks, a strange and inept gang has smashed the windows of a clothes store near the British Museum... and stole nothing.

My @_TheLondoner story is a saga of Chinese mafia conspiracies, soot-covered robbers and late night visits from dodgy glaziers.

https://t.co/PI3Hvfdi22

[The Londoner @_TheLondoner]

The Londoner has been shortlisted for this year's British Journalism Awards in two categories!

On the list alongside our stellar @millmediauk colleagues at @ManchesterMill and @sheffieldtrib.

[Alys Key @alys_key]

https://t.co/GPxlUDFTHL

[Alys Key @alys_key]

And you can be first to find out about this kind of thing by subscribing to our free London newsletter, where @AndrewKersley broke the story yesterday lunchtime😇 🔗👇

[Looking for Growth @lfg_uk]

This is madness. 

The Soho Society has struck again. 

It is now…

Objecting to the redevelopment of an abandoned building in Soho. 

Why? 

It could cause “over activation”.

Twentieth Century House, right in the middle of London, vacant for 5 years.

There’s a plan to bring it back to life:

🏢 Affordable workspace for small businesses.

🛍️ New shops.

🍽️ A courtyard with bars and restaurants replacing an empty alley.

🚶‍♂️‍➡️A public walkway connecting Dean Street to Soho Square.

The Soho Society would rather it remain DERELICT. 

They hate the idea that people might want to have fun in the capital’s prime nightlife district.

We disagree.

Westminster councillors have the final say. They should prove they are pro-growth & approve it.

What do you think?