UK considers plan to ‘disable’ Channel migrant boats with nets October 11, 2020 The government is considering plans to “disable” boats carrying migrants across the Channel by using nets to stop them from reaching the UK, according to the new man in charge of stopping illegal crossings. The UK has seen a marked increase in illegal Channel crossings this year, with more than 1,500 people crossing by boat [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson warns of ‘significant gaps’ to bridge in EU trade talks October 11, 2020 Boris Johnson has told French President Emmanuel Macron that there are still “significant gaps” to be bridged to seal a post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal. A statement released by Downing Street said the Prime Minister told Macron on a phone call yesterday that he needed to see progress in the coming days, “notably in the areas [...]
England’s mayors to gain more control over NHS Test and Trace October 11, 2020 Mayors across England are set to gain more control over the NHS Test and Trace system as the government prepares to implement tougher Covid restrictions. The government will give local authorities access to the Test and Trace data and urge them to deploy volunteers to knock on people’s homes and tell them to self-isolate if [...]
Covid: Robert Jenrick does not rule out banning outside mixing October 11, 2020 Housing secretary Robert Jenrick would not rule out a potential ban on outside mixing this morning as Covid cases continue to rise. When asked today if there would be a ban on people meeting outside, Jenrick said “he couldn’t say” and that people should “wait to see what the PM says” on further restrictions. Daily [...]
Boris Johnson tries to court Biden as Number 10 falls off Trump train October 11, 2020 Boris Johnson is reportedly trying to woo US Presidential candidate Joe Biden with Downing Street increasingly convinced that Donald Trump will not be re-elected. Johnson has been shown private polling that shows Biden is on track for a landslide victory, spurring him to try to build ties with the former Vice President. Trump and Johnson [...]
Iain Dale reveals his top 10 most powerful figures in UK politics October 10, 2020 Radio personality Iain Dale will next week reveal his top 100 most powerful people in UK politics, with City A.M. able to reveal today who made the top 10. The list, which will be released in full in next week’s edition of The Mace magazine, contains Westminster’s most important “movers, shakers and rule-breakers”, according to [...]
Business bodies urge chancellor to ‘go further’ with new furlough scheme October 9, 2020 Businesses in the hospitality sector have said Rishi Sunak’s support package “must go further” to avoid wide-scale job losses, after the chancellor today unveiled a new furlough scheme for businesses facing local lockdowns. Sunak today said the government will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to businesses forced to shutter under fresh lockdown measures. Firms [...]
Tory mayoral candidate vows ‘mental health covenant’ for TfL staff October 9, 2020 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has pledged to offer more mental health support to Transport for London (TfL) staff if elected mayor as figures show increasing levels of psychological distress among the workforce. Bailey told City A.M. that he would create a “mental health covenant” for TfL workers in a similar vein to existing programmes [...]
Agriculture bill returns to Commons for crunch food standards vote October 9, 2020 The controversial agriculture bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday for a key vote on the future of the UK’s food standards. It goes back to the lower chamber after being amended in the House of Lords to include the requirement that any food products imported under future trade deals meet UK standards. [...]
Rishi Sunak set to announce furlough extension in local lockdown areas October 9, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a limited extension to the furlough scheme today as the government faces mounting criticism over fresh local lockdown restrictions across the country. Sunak will outline new support for people and businesses in England facing strict new measures set to come into force next week, including the closure of [...]