Belgium and Croatia may be next on UK’s quarantine list July 29, 2020 People travelling to the UK from Belgium, Luxembourg and Croatia may face 14-day quarantines as coronavirus infection rates rise across the continent. Boris Johnson said yesterday that he feared mainland Europe was beginning to experience the first stages of a second Covid-19 wave. Infection rates have been recorded as rising in 11 European countries over [...]
UK just weeks away from signing Japan free trade deal July 29, 2020 The UK is on the verge of signing a free trade deal with Japan, with the agreement set to be closed within a matter of weeks. Negotiations, which began just six weeks ago, have reportedly reached a breakthrough point with the dialogue at an “advanced stage”, according to a government source. The Sun reports that [...]
Heathrow airport accuses government of playing ‘quarantine roulette’ July 29, 2020 Heathrow airport has accused the government of “playing a game of quarantine roulette” without an operational testing system, as the transport hub reported a record loss of more than £1bn for the first half of the year during the pandemic. The airport saw a 96 per cent slump in passenger numbers for the three months [...]
Lose five pounds for the government? It’s thanks to the government I gained it in the first place July 29, 2020 I cannot be the only person who has gained five pounds during lockdown. I am still far from overweight (the NHS BMI calculator helpfully tells me that I am in the optimum range for my age and height), but the government’s sudden fixation on slimming down the nation has not exactly been great for my [...]
Letter: Is the government right to focus on obesity as its top public health issue? July 29, 2020 Re: Is the government right to focus on obesity as its top public health issue? People with obesity are at a much greater risk of serious Covid-19-related complications and death. They are also more likely to require hospitalisation, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation. Hence, addressing obesity makes sense not only as a way to prevent [...]
Twitter limits Donald Trump Jr’s account over coronavirus video July 28, 2020 Twitter said today it has limited access to Donald Trump Jr’s account for 12 hours, following a tweet he had posted which violated its misinformation policy on coronavirus. The eldest son of US President Donald Trump posted a video yesterday of doctors talking about the drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus. In the video, [...]
Rishi Sunak’s deputy says targeted relief an option after furlough scheme ends July 28, 2020 Treasury minister Steve Barclay has ruled out extending the government’s furlough scheme past October, but left the door open for targeted relief to some sectors. The scheme is due to end on 31 October, with government payments decreased in September and October. Barclay said today that there would be no extension to the scheme, echoing [...]
Treasury unveils plan to speed up delivery of government projects July 28, 2020 Treasury minister Steve Barclay has unveiled the government’s plan to make his department “the new radicals” and transform Whitehall’s decision making processes. Barclay told centre-right think tank Onward today that the Treasury would become more like a Silicon Valley company by ensuring public sector projects operate at greater speed and by using better data to [...]
Oldham hit with new lockdown measures after spike in coronavirus cases July 28, 2020 Some lockdown measures have been reintroduced in Oldham after a “dramatic” spike in cases of coronavirus over the weekend. Residents should not allow social visitors into their homes and must keep a safe distance of 2m from others. Those who are shielding have been told to continue doing so for another two weeks, until 14 [...]
UK tax rises: How will Rishi Sunak pay down the coronavirus deficit? July 28, 2020 Rishi Sunak’s first five months as chancellor has seen him shower the UK economy with hundreds of billions of pounds, helping make him the most popular government figure. However, talk has already turned to the ballooning deficit – predicted to be around £350bn this year – and how to reduce it to more manageable levels. [...]