During my campaigns, one message was clear: residents want efficient public services that deliver better outcomes for everyone. I want to imaginatively illustrate how technology can play a crucial role in achieving this, showing how transforming into a connected, innovative digital city can better serve our communities.
Let me take you to a potential future.
“Mind the gap!” yelled the train guard from the platform. For Aidan and me, it was another travel hurdle—the gap between the platform and the tube. My childhood friend Aidan is in a wheelchair. Would we safely onboard and reach London’s new smart street with its innovative assistive technologies? The full implementation of 5G and fibre broadband has transformed journeys.
As the tube pulls in, our carbon-neutral journey begins; this line is powered by renewable energy. An automated voice announces the arrival of a designated disability-access carriage. Embedded sensors detect Aidan is about to enter in his wheelchair; a ramp automatically extends, calculating the platform’s height and gap length, enabling us to onboard without in-person assistance. A blind woman boards with us, navigating her journey independently using her phone’s Bluetooth low energy; it’s providing audio instructions.
Continuous Wi-Fi is installed across most tube lines and so, as we travel, Aidan makes a call and I browse the web, discovering an article that suggests emerging technologies could significantly reduce tube travel times soon. I glance at my watch. Will we be on time to meet my sister and niece? Thankfully, the Internet of Things has enabled predictive maintenance, meaning repairs are made before issues arise; signal failures and tube closures are rare.
As we near our final stop, I check the TfL Go app, which provides real-time updates on lift breakdowns and crowding, helping passengers manage their journeys. We off-board using the automated ramp and make our way along the platform. I notice the Underground’s historic Victorian appearance is still there but has been modernised. “Look!” says Aidan, pointing to a camera. “It’s AI sentient analysis technology. It identifies passengers at risk of falling or jumping onto the tracks and alerts staff before an incident occurs. “Did you also see the TikTok video on how the Underground’s heat is extracted and sold as power?” continues Aidan.
We head to the lift, passing air filtration technology designed to improve the Underground’s air quality—a result of local activists’ efforts, as some journeys were once as toxic as smoking a cigarette. Aidan taps his contactless card at the wide aisle gate but drops it as it opens. Sensing he hasn’t passed through, the sensors keep the gate open until we retrieve his card—unlike the past, when the doors would have slammed shut mid-entry! As we head to the exit, I notice the walls showcasing artwork by local artists, celebrating London’s culture and local talent.
Stepping out into London’s new smart street, the kinetic floor tiles strike against my feet as I walk, generating renewable power for street lighting. It starts to rain. We open our umbrellas; climate change has made winters wetter, so the pavement is laid with permeable paving, absorbing rainwater and reducing street flooding.
Continuing down the street, we spot a police hub integrated into the corner—sleek, modern, and bustling. People gather around a digital board, some recording crimes and downloading apps to track crime reports in real time. Police officers chat with residents, offering safety tips. This scene reflects the collaborative approach between police and citizens that residents expressed during my recent campaigns. It’s not just about more police; it’s about empowerment, knowledge, and real-time connection. It signifies a new civic partnership.
“I just need to throw this out,” says Aidan, spotting a bin next to an e-transport station for e-bikes and e-scooters. People now use multi-modal transport to get around. Aidan tosses his Toblerone packet into the smart bin, where image recognition and robotic technology segregate waste.
“Can you hear that?” I ask. “It’s great, isn’t it?” Aidan replies. “London reimagined as a place of biodiversity.” We hear birdsong. With increased e-transport modes, the demand for independent driving has fallen. Nearby, a car park is being converted into high-rise housing, with swift bricks for nesting birds set within its walls.
I observe London’s buildings as I walk. Many look the same as when I was a child, but they’ve undergone substantial refits. I recall when buildings accounted for 80% of the city’s carbon emissions, nearly half from heating. Now, retrofitting has greatly reduced carbon emissions, supported by localised heat networks. Solar panels to capture and convert heat into energy, green roofs to absorb rainfall, and green walls are now common features. Thousands of plants are embedded in modern buildings. Biodiversity thrives here in central London, with more greenery than many outer towns.
As it gets darker, I look up at a smart streetlight, which adjusts its brightness as we near. It also provides electric charging, monitors air quality and noise, and collects traffic data, informing city planners about congestion and pollution. Crossing the street, we pass a smart bus shelter offering real-time travel info and public Wi-Fi. People crowd around an advertising screen watching a trailer for a new movie; the shelters are funded by advertising.
I see my sister and niece waiting by Eros, the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain on Piccadilly. My niece waves, jumping with excitement. As we approach, memories flood back; I walked here aged 19 on my way to an event, where I met Margaret Thatcher. At the time, I was an athlete, representing England in badminton and training with the national team in Milton Keynes. For a few moments, I spoke with Thatcher who advised, “make sure you do another career first” recommending I broaden my work experience before entering politics. That evening, inspired by her words and the opportunities London offered, I sat by the same statue and made the life-changing decision to leave sports for a business career in the city.
London’s potential lies in digitalisation, the driving force behind economic growth and efficiency across industries.
As a leading financial hub, London has the financial prowess and capital to continue to drive investment into tech companies and entrepreneurs who are innovating our future. While the technologies discussed in this article already exist, their implementation is far too slow. Many areas still lack 5G, and efforts to upskill citizens and bridge the digital divide, especially for society’s most vulnerable, are insufficient.
Inclusion must be central to our mission; with two wheelchair users in my family, this matters to me.
London’s greatest asset is its talented people, and we must grow our skills economy to develop the workforce needed to evolve our city and provide meaningful jobs for everyone. Key policies for creating an inclusive and progressive digital society must focus on delivering universal 5G and fibre broadband connectivity, engaging the public, entrepreneurs, and tech communities in finding solutions to societal challenges, and ensuring the safe and ethical use of data for public benefit.
