Coronavirus: Universities call for state aid with income set to plunge April 10, 2020 The UK’s universities have written to the government to request financial assistance as they brace for an estimated £800m drop in income this academic year. In an open letter sent to the chancellor and the education secretary, sector body Universities UK warned that higher education establishments could lose as much as £7bn in international student [...]
Foreign Office to bring 3,000 stranded UK nationals back from India April 10, 2020 The Foreign Office has chartered 12 more flights to bring around 3,000 UK nationals back from India as repatriation efforts continue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The new flights come in addition to seven that have already been set up, meaning a total number of 5,000 UK citizens will be brought home from [...]
Dominic Raab: Still ‘too early’ to lift lockdown restrictions April 9, 2020 The government has said that it is still too early to lift lockdown restrictions across the UK, urging people again not to travel over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Boris Johnson while the prime minister remains in intensive care, said that although the early signs were that [...]
Boris Johnson ‘getting better’ but remains in intensive care with covid-19 April 9, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “getting better” a government minister said today, but remains in intensive care suffering from covid-19. Johnson, 55, was admitted to St Thomas’s hospital in London on Sunday evening with a persistent high temperature and cough. On Monday he was moved to the hospital’s intensive care department after his condition worsened. [...]
UK’s wage subsidy scheme on track for April roll out April 8, 2020 The government’s wage subsidy scheme is on track to be open on schedule as the nation’s top taxman warns it could be targeted by fraudsters. The Job Retention Scheme sees the government pay 80 per cent of wages, up to £2,500 a month, for employees that have been unable to work during the Covid-19 crisis [...]
Coronavirus business loans hit £450m but doubts about scheme remain April 8, 2020 UK banks have now lent £453m through the government’s coronavirus business loans scheme as it picks up following an overhaul, although a large number of firms are still struggling to access the cash they need. The Treasury said today that more than 2,500 loans for business had been approved as of yesterday via the coronavirus [...]
‘Urgent action’ must be taken to protect more workers, says Treasury committee April 8, 2020 Urgent action must be taken to provide economic relief for those not covered by the government’s coronavirus support packages, according to parliament’s Treasury committee. Mel Stride, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, wrote to chancellor Rishi Sunak today to ask for an extension of the government’s self-employed coronavirus package in particular. The committee said it [...]
Rishi Sunak to hand £750m in assistance to UK’s charities April 8, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £750m package to assist the country’s frontline charities during the coronavirus pandemic. Charities providing essential services and supporting vulnerable people will be eligible to receive direct funding from the government out of a £360m pool. These will include hospices, St Johns Ambulance, victims charities, vulnerable children charities and citizens [...]
Boris Johnson’s condition is ‘improving’ as he battles coronavirus April 8, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care in St Thomas’ hospital, but his condition is “improving”, chancellor Rishi Sunak has said. Speaking at this afternoon’s press conference, Sunak added that Johnson has “been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with his clinical team”. The chancellor said that the Prime Minister’s hospitalisation was a [...]
UK coronavirus death toll jumps by 938 to pass 7,000 April 8, 2020 The UK coronavirus death toll has jumped by 938 to hit 7,097, the Department of Health has confirmed. The figure marks an increase on the 786 fatalities recorded yesterday, as the daily death toll continues to grow ahead of the Easter weekend. Health officials have warned that the long weekend could see the peak of [...]