Rishi Sunak to unveil multi-billion pound spending boost in bid to woo regions November 21, 2020 Rishi Sunak is set to unveil plans to pour billions of pounds into infrastructure projects in a bid to woo regions and narrow the UK’s north-south divide. The chancellor will next week announce the launch of a new UK infrastructure bank, based in northern England, which will play a crucial role in fuelling the country’s [...]
Vaccine by Christmas: Government ready to start vaccinating ‘next month’ November 20, 2020 The NHS is ready to start vaccinating people in England against coronavirus from next month, the health secretary confirmed today. “If the regulator approves a vaccine, we will be ready to start the vaccination next month with the bulk of the rollout in the New Year,” Matt Hancock said at a Downing Street coronavirus briefing. [...]
MPs demand answers from Rishi Sunak on PPE procurement November 20, 2020 MPs have demanded an explanation from chancellor Rishi Sunak on the government’s awarding of contracts to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, following a damning report from the UK’s accounts watchdog. At least £18bn-worth of PPE contracts signed by the government showed “a lack of transparency” and were missing essential paperwork, the National [...]
Coronavirus: R rate falls across UK to between 1 and 1.1 November 20, 2020 The UK’s coronavirus reproduction number has fallen slightly to a maximum of 1.1, according to official figures. The current estimate of Britain’s coronavirus R rate now stands between 1 and 1.1, down from a previous estimate of 1.1 and 1.2. It means on average every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 11 other [...]
Boris Johnson vows ‘no return to austerity’ amid plans to freeze public sector pay November 20, 2020 Nearly 4m public sector workers may face a pay freeze next year, including soldiers, police officers, teachers and civil servants
Bullying inquiry head quits as Johnson sides with Patel November 20, 2020 Senior civil servant and independent adviser to Boris Johnson Sir Alex Allan has resigned following publication of his report that found Priti Patel broke behaviour rules around bullying. Allan headed up an inquiry into bullying allegations made against home secretary Priti Patel. His report found Patel broke behaviour rules, however Boris Johnson has since said [...]
Treasury rebuffs calls from City banks for help chasing bad debts from Covid loans November 20, 2020 Treasury rebuffs calls from City banks for help chasing bad debts from Covid loans
MPs threaten football regulation as they urge bosses to end funding ‘fiasco’ November 20, 2020 MPs have called on the bosses of England’s top football leagues to end the “fiasco” over emergency funding, warning they could introduce new regulation if the game failed to reform itself. The Premier League has been locked in fraught negotiations over a bailout deal for clubs in the English Football League (EFL), which have seen [...]
Flattening Covid cases could see families gather at Christmas, says Hancock November 20, 2020 Flattening Covid-19 cases could mean Britain eases its distancing measures to allow families to gather for Christmas, Matt Hancock has said. The health minister is working with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a UK-wide approach to rules for Christmas. England has been under lockdown for two weeks following a rise [...]
Matt Hancock defends ‘kind’ Priti Patel as Home Secretary comes under fire November 20, 2020 Matt Hancock defends 'kind' Priti Patel as Home Secretary comes under fire