Coronavirus: Boris Johnson tells 1.5m Britons to isolate for 12 weeks March 22, 2020 An estimated 1.5m Britons have been sent letters by the government telling them to not go outside for the next 12 weeks to protect themselves from coronavirus. Boris Johnson personally addressed the letters to those most at risk of dying from Covid-19, including over-70s, pregnant women and people with one of more than a dozen [...]
Jeremy Corbyn defends Labour’s election record March 22, 2020 Jeremy Corbyn has defended his 2019 election campaign, saying he was “proud” of the party despite suffering its worst electoral defeat since 1935. Corbyn said his time in office “achieved a great deal” in changing the political agenda and addressing “injustices in Britain”. Labour won just 201 seats in December’s election, which was its worst [...]
‘We should all be ashamed’: NHS England boss calls for end to panic-buying March 21, 2020 The medical director of NHS England has said everyone should “be ashamed” that vital healthcare staff were being deprived of supplies due to panic-buying. Stephen Powis called on the public to think of those working long days to look after our loved ones when shopping. The appeal came at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing today, [...]
UK government considers buying equity in airlines to keep them afloat March 21, 2020 The UK government is considering buying equity stakes in airlines and other companies hardest hit by the coronavirus. It comes after warnings that the measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier this week will not be enough to save them from collapse. The plans under consideration would see billions of pounds of taxpayer money injected [...]
Coronavirus wage bailout: Government to cover 80 per cent of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 March 20, 2020 The government will pay up to 80 per cent, or £2,500, of the salaries of British workers hit by the UK coronavirus crisis in a huge wage bailout. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the extraordinary measures today after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all pubs and restaurants, cafes and gyms to shut their doors tonight and [...]
GBP / EUR update March 20, 2020 | City Talk As everywhere across the world, everything in the UK has been accelerating at pace and the pound has paid the price. Whilst not always at the bottom of the pile, sterling has been struggling and hit a 35-year low against the US dollar. Measures to address all aspects of the crisis were well-received by investors [...]
Labour’s Ian Murray: We need universal basic income to beat coronavirus March 20, 2020 The government must introduce a universal basic income to protect the UK’s most vulnerable workers amid a coronavirus-fuelled economic downturn, Labour deputy leadership contender Ian Murray warned this week. He also called on Boris Johnson to step up measures to protect businesses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic – or risk “local community businesses [...]
Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 39 to 177 March 20, 2020 A further 39 people to have tested positive for coronavirus have passed away today, according to NHS England. It brings the death toll in the UK to 177 with 167 of those coming in England. There have been six deaths in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. The majority of them are believed to be in [...]
What does life look like after coronavirus? March 20, 2020 Right now, the priority for all countries must be to confront the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic: ensuring access to healthcare, maintaining the flow of essential supplies, and managing the economic fall-out that risks seeing businesses and individuals devastated through no fault of their own. But historically, periods of national crisis have often been [...]
Coronavirus: Man arrested on Isle of Man for failing to self-isolate March 20, 2020 A 26-year-old man has been arrested on the Isle of Man for failing to self-isolate as the local govenrment imposes strict rules. The Manx government has demanded that anyone arriving on the island must quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days. The man arrested arrived yesterday via boat and failed to adhere to those [...]