Sadiq Khan warns more Londoners ‘will die’ if people leave their homes March 22, 2020 Sadiq Khan has told Londoners that more people will die from coronavirus if they do not follow the government’s instructions and self-isolate. The capital has been the worst hit region in the UK by the spread of Covid-19, accounting for almost 40 per cent of the country’s 5,018 confirmed cases. Speaking to BBC today, Khan [...]
Sadiq Khan commemorates anniversary of Westminster terror attack March 22, 2020 Sadiq Khan has paid tribute to the victims of the 2017 Westminster terror attack on the day’s third anniversary. Four people were killed and 50 injured on 22 March 2017 when Khalid Masood drove a truck into pedestrians on Wesminster Bridge. He went on to crash the vehicle into a fence outside parliament and stabbed [...]
Millions of coronavirus antibody tests expected to arrive in weeks March 22, 2020 Millions of tests that can detect if someone has ever had coronavirus will arrive in the UK in the coming weeks, according to the housing and communities secretary. The antibody tests, which have been described by Boris Johnson as a “gamechanger, could allow people to return to their everyday lives. The test can see if [...]
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 [...]