Criminals reaping an estimated £100 million a year from London’s illegal tobacco trade are threatening London’s crucial Covid-19 stop smoking efforts. That's the warning this week from London trading standards and public health experts working together to tackle the capital's illegal tobacco trade through the #StampItOut campaign.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Health & Care Cllr Sir Ray Puddifoot, said: “Illegal tobacco remains a major challenge in the capital.

“Promoting good public health is crucial for boosting our resilience to Covid-19, but illegal tobacco makes it easier for young people to start smoking and harder for others to quit, as well as bringing crime into communities.

“London boroughs are continuing to fight against the sale and distribution of these dangerous products. We’re determined to raise awareness among our residents and to help create a healthier, safer city for Londoners.”

Tell-tale signs of illegal tobacco include:

• Being much cheaper than normal cigarettes (i.e. £3.50 - £7.00 per pack of 20)

• Packets with foreign language health warnings

• No pictures or health warnings

• Branded instead of plain packaging

• Unusual or foreign brand names, such as Jin Ling – or those from Russia and the Far East.

If Londoners see any tobacco products that match the description above or have information which may be useful, they are advised to call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03444 111 444 or report it online at: londontradingstandards.org.uk

London boroughs have warned that the government’s Affordable Homes Programme “won’t do nearly enough” to address the capital’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.

While the £12 billion investment in affordable homes is welcome, there are concerns that London’s proportional share of the funding is being reduced – despite the capital facing the most severe homelessness crisis in the country. Boroughs also point to the significant need to increase investment in homes for social rent, while the government instead says it will rebalance grant funding in favour of affordable homeownership tenures.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “To deliver on its ambition of levelling up, the government must provide London with the resources needed to address its chronic housing crisis and improve residents’ life chances.

“London boroughs are enthusiastic supporters of the government’s ‘build, build, build’ agenda. For example, we recently went to the government to seek financial backing for boroughs to build 50,000 desperately needed homes in the capital. This offer still stands and we will keep urging ministers to do more to bring about a new generation of council housing.

"Investment in homes for social rent is fundamental to boosting housing affordability and security, and councils should be given the powers and resources we need to deliver more homes in our communities.”

Congratulations to Westminster's Hayley Navarro, (best contribution by a new apprentice) and Croydon's Nazifa Chowdhury (best progression by a new apprentice) who are the first two winners to be announced in this year's London Borough Apprenticeship Awards.

Winners in each category will be unveiled at noon each day on London Councils' Twitter @londoncouncils.

The winner of the 'Apprentice of the Year' award will be announced at noon on Monday 14 September.

London Councils' Chief Executive, John O’Brien, this week announced that he has decided to step down from his role in April 2021.

London Councils Chair and Labour Group Leader, Cllr Peter John OBE, praised John's "tremendous contribution" to London local government.

"We will be very sorry to see him go", he said, "His insight and leadership have been highly valued by all levels of government and by partners across London. I have loved working with John and wish him every success for the future.”

London Councils Vice Chair and Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE, said: “John has worked effectively under both Conservative and Labour Chairs of the organisation, as well as with Group Leaders on a cross party basis. He has navigated that course with great skill over many years, helping make London Councils a place where boroughs can work together and speak strongly and credibly on a cross party basis.”

Vice Chair and Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE, said: “I would like to thank John for the work he has done and also for the way he has gone about it. He has rightly won a high degree of trust and respect among London and national partners. We will really miss his contribution.”

London Councils’ Group Leaders will be discussing the arrangements for the recruitment of a successor in the coming weeks.

The APPG for London held a virtual panel session yesterday (Tuesday 8 September) with experts from the City of London Corporation, UK Hospitality, and the London Economic Action Partnership to discuss how the capital's businesses have coped with Covid-19, and what needs to happen next to ensure they recover.

The APPG for London is a forum for MPs and Peers to work together on a cross-party basis to strengthen the capital's voice in Parliament. London Councils provides the secretariat to the group on behalf of London government.