Ben Lynch

A leaked City of London Corporation-commissioned report identifies 280 former Corporation members, including 41 lord mayors and 129 aldermen, as involved in trafficking enslaved Africans between 1640 and 1807. The research says members invested in or helped lead the Royal African Company, which transported at least 250,000 enslaved people, around 37,000 of whom died during crossings. The Corporation says it is disappointed by the leak and plans to publish the report later in 2026, while Professor William Pettigrew may add further details before its official release.

A leaked report commissioned by the City of London Corporation identifies 280 former members, including 41 lord mayors and 129 aldermen, as connected to the trafficking of enslaved Africans between 1640 and 1807. The research links members to at least a quarter of a million enslaved people transported across the Atlantic, with approximately 37,000 deaths during the crossings. It also finds that 72 of the 203 original subscribers to the Royal African Company were City Corporation members. The corporation says it will publish the report later this year, while researcher William Pettigrew is preparing a national database on Britain’s slave-trade links.

The City of London Corporation is drafting a bill to create a lawful process for removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom of the City of London, an honour he received in 2012 through his father, Prince Philip. Officials say the existing disenfranchisement mechanism is defective and no effective legal route currently exists. The draft is expected to go to the Policy and Resources Committee in September and the Court of Common Council in October. If approved, a later report would allow members to decide whether to remove the honour.

Dockless e-bike operators in the City of London will face fines of up to £10,000 if they fail to enforce proper parking and rider behaviour under an expanded agreement with the City of London Corporation. The memorandum requires Lime, Forest and Voi to meet stricter parking, enforcement, affordability and data-sharing standards while contributing increased funding to the authority. The policy follows a sharp rise in e-bike numbers and significant public frustration over pavement obstruction. A recent trial issued 779 fixed penalty notices, with Lime receiving the most. Fixed penalties will now continue alongside the new fine regime, as officials aim to improve management while supporting active travel goals.

A proposed amendment to a City of London development would reduce the Migration Museum’s planned space from three floors to two in order to add 33 more student rooms. Developer Dominus says the changes would improve the museum’s financial sustainability by enabling a substantial contribution to its fit‑out, while addressing rising demand for student accommodation. A local resident criticised the reduction in public benefit that supported the original planning approval. The museum’s chief executive said the revised plan would still deliver a significantly larger permanent home with improved long‑term viability.

Bevis Marks Synagogue has launched a consultation on a draft planning framework outlining principles for developers and the City of London Corporation to protect the historic site's visibility of the moon and stars, a key element of its religious practice. The initiative follows prior planning disputes over nearby tall building proposals. Rabbi Shalom Morris emphasises the need for greater understanding of the synagogue’s cultural and religious significance and highlights the Jewish community’s enduring presence.