UK government’s £330bn coronavirus package could be targeted by criminals March 24, 2020 The UK government’s £330bn emergency coronavirus aid package risks being targeted by organised crime, said a white collar crime lawyer. Risks will centre around false applications for small business grants of up to £25,000 each – and boiler room fraud operations could see money evaporate as organised crime gangs game the system, the lawyer said. [...]
Hancock calls for 250,000 coronavirus volunteers as government readies London mega hospital March 24, 2020 The government has called for 250,000 healthy people to become volunteers, as part of efforts to support vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed the opening of a temporary new mega-hospital at London’s Excel centre. Leading the daily press conference from Downing Street, Hancock said the [...]
UK coronavirus death toll: Biggest daily increase to 422 March 24, 2020 The UK coronavirus death toll has risen by the biggest daily amount to 422, according to the latest government figures. The death toll – which was correct as of 1pm this afternoon- represents an increase of 87 UK coronavirus deaths compared to yesterday. As of 9am this morning, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in [...]
High-spending Rishi Sunak proves a hit among Brits March 24, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s approval ratings have turned positive for the first time as the public “rallies to the flag” during the coronavirus outbreak – but he’s still far less popular than chancellor Rishi Sunak. The 39-year-old chancellor, who only took up the job last month, has surged in popularity as he oversees the largest [...]
Coronavirus: Police can do ‘whatever is appropriate’ to enforce lockdown March 24, 2020 Police will be granted the powers to do “whatever they consider appropriate” to enforce the coronavirus lockdown measures introduced by the Prime Minister last night. Regulation will be in place by Thursday at the latest, allowing officers to issue fines to those who refuse to comply with the rules set out by Boris Johnson in [...]
Coronavirus lockdown: Sadiq Khan urges construction sites to close March 24, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for London construction sites to be closed down in the wake of the government’s effective coronavirus lockdown. The mayor of London said he disagreed with the government’s ruling that construction sites could stay open and that it would be “very, very difficult” for those workers to follow social distancing instructions. Khan [...]
Rishi Sunak: ‘Incredibly complicated’ to help self-employed during coronavirus outbreak March 24, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the government will unveil measures to support the self-employed but said it was very difficult to design support schemes for those not employed by companies. Sunak said he could not commit to a timeframe for the measures, however, as pressure rises on the chancellor to do more to support those [...]
UK coronavirus lockdown: Michael Gove warns of tougher punishments March 24, 2020 Michael Gove has criticised Mike Ashley for failing to close Sports Direct stores on the first day of the UK coronavirus lockdown, and warned of tougher punishments for flouting the public order to stay at home. The minister blasted Ashley’s argument that keeping Sports Direct stores open was crucial to help UK households “maintain a [...]
Coronavirus: Prime Minister announces unprecedented lockdown across UK as government battles Covid-19 March 23, 2020 The Prime Minister has imposed unprecedented restrictions on people’s movements, which will be enforced through the police, in a desperate bid to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. In a historic address to the nation, Boris Johnson revealed that people would only be allowed to leave their home for “very limited purposes” including shopping for basic [...]
Coronavirus: Dominic Raab calls for all British travellers to return to the UK March 23, 2020 The UK’s foreign secretary Dominic Raab today called for all British travellers to return home while international travel was still possible amid the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Raab changed travel advice to warn UK travellers against all but essential international travel in the next 30 days. But today, he said that the pace at which [...]