DEBATE: Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? October 9, 2020 Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? Mark Henriques, managing director of Cripps & Co and petitioner seeking an injunction against the government measures, says YES. In March, lockdown shattered the plans of the thousands of people set to marry this year. I have watched with dismay as a temporary upset, caused by [...]
Time running out for TfL to secure emergency government funding October 9, 2020 Time is running out for Transport for London (TfL) to secure emergency central government funding, with cash from its last bailout set to dry up in nine days. TfL is in negotiations with the Department for Transport over the funding settlement, with mayor of London Sadiq Khan asking for £5.65bn over the next 18 months [...]
The pensions triple-lock is unjustifiable in normal times — in the Covid era, it is utterly unconscionable October 9, 2020 Imagine you a Conservative chancellor trying to steer the economy through the midst of the worst pandemic in modern history. You have done your best to protect jobs and support struggling businesses in the face of drastic lockdown restrictions, while tax receipts shrivelled and the healthcare bill has ballooned beyond all previous measures. Despite your [...]
Downing Street names Allegra Stratton as new press secretary October 8, 2020 Veteran journalist Allegra Stratton has been confirmed as Downing Street’s new press secretary. The newly-created role will see Stratton front No.10’s new daily televised briefings. Stratton currently serves as director of communications at the Treasury. She previously worked as journalist at ITV News, the BBC and The Guardian. The government’s new daily briefings – which [...]
Brexit: UK confirms plans for Kent ‘passport’ for lorry drivers October 8, 2020 The government has confirmed today that lorries entering Kent from other parts of Great Britain will need a special ID from 1 January 2021 and that EU citizens entering the country will need to use a passport when coming to the UK from October. The new “Kent access permit” will be needed for lorry drivers [...]
London minister hits out at Sadiq Khan for ‘mixed messages’ during Covid October 8, 2020 Boris Johnson’s London minister has hit out at Sadiq Khan for sending “mixed messages” and for being two-faced in his dealings with the government. Paul Scully said today that Khan had “worked collaboratively” with the government behind closed doors during the Covid pandemic, but that he too often then goes on to attack the Prime [...]
Minister flags potential extension of England curfew to 11pm October 8, 2020 A government minister has floated the idea of potentially extending England’s hospitality curfew to 11pm – the same as Northern Ireland. London minister Paul Scully told a virtual event today that a curfew extension would be a lifeline to the hospitality sector, but that the government needed to examine how effective Northern Ireland’s 11pm lock [...]
Brexit: UK and EU edging closer on state aid talks, says David Frost October 7, 2020 The UK and EU are finally beginning to make progress in the contentious area of state subsidies during Brexit trade talks, according to Britain’s chief negotiator Lord David Frost. Frost said today that talks with Brussels on state aid had been “somewhat more constructive” in recent weeks after “a long period in which we’ve been [...]
Nicola Sturgeon slaps indoor booze ban on Scotland October 7, 2020 Nicola Sturgeon has banned the sale of alcohol indoors in Scotland’s hospitality venues for 16 days in a bid to curb a second spike in Covid. From Friday, hospitality venues will only be able to open indoors between 6am and 6pm, and will not be able to serve alcohol in these settings. Hospitality venues in [...]
Speculation mounts over further two weeks of Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland October 7, 2020 Speculation mounts about what a fresh Scottish Covid-19 lockdown could look like with the country’s pubs, bars and indoor attractions may be about to close. Fanning the flames has been a document reportedly from the Scottish government, first reported by Guido Fawkes, circulating on social media which suggests “applying a brake to the virus” between [...]