The world needs a coordinated Covid policy — based on social realities, not just ‘the science’ October 20, 2020 The measures recommended by Victorian epidemiologist Dr John Snow to prevent cholera contain many that we’re now advocating today in response to Covid-19. Dr Snow advised better personal hygiene, checking the health of arrivals from abroad, and getting the homeless off the streets — all strategies taken by the UK government over the past few [...]
Brexit: EU vows to ‘intensify’ trade talks to get UK back to negotiating table October 19, 2020 EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is available to “intensify” trade talks, in a bid to get the UK back to the negotiating table, just moments before Michael Gove told MPs that Brussels needed to “fundamentally change” if a deal is to be done. Barnier also said the EU would also prepare [...]
Hospitality sector bangs pots and pans in Parliament Square to call for further government support October 19, 2020 Chefs, farmers, waitresses and caterers took their pots and pans to Parliament Square today to make their calls for further government support for the hospitality sector heard across Westminster. Hundreds of workers from the food and drink industry urged ministers to provide fresh funding to save wide-scale job losses and venue closures, as further restrictions [...]
Number 10: Manchester hospitals will be soon overrun without Tier 3 restrictions October 19, 2020 Downing Street has said Manchester’s hospitals are weeks away from using up all their available intensive care beds if Covid infections continue at their current rate in a bid to ramp up pressure on Andy Burnham to accept Tier 3 restrictions. The Prime Minister’s spokesman told a group of journalists today that Covid cases in [...]
Brexit: EU needs to show ‘maturity’ in trade talks, says minister October 19, 2020 The EU has been immature and inflexible in trade negotiations but the door is “still ajar” for a Brexit trade deal, according to a cabinet minister. Boris Johnson said on Friday that the UK was finished negotiating with the EU unless it is willing to intensify talks and make key concessions. His words were seen [...]
Pound jumps on signs a Brexit deal can still be done October 19, 2020 The pound surged as investors bet that Brexit talks would resume – despite the UK’s tough rhetoric – and eventually result in some kind of free-trade agreement. Sterling was up 0.7 per cent by mid-morning at $1.30. It had risen 0.5 per cent against the euro to stand at €1.107. Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck [...]
UK can be a ‘free agent’ in financial markets after Brexit, says think tank October 19, 2020 The UK can be a significant “free agent” in the global banking and financial markets once Brexit is over, a new report claims. As negotiations continue in the next few weeks and Bois Johnson steps up his no-deal rhetoric, the UK’s banking and finance industry is in for a seismic change. A report by think [...]
Love in a time of Covid: A guide to lockdown dating October 19, 2020 Shakespeare’s assertion that “the course of true love never did run smooth” has never felt quite so true as it has during the pandemic for couples who don’t live together. This has become especially complicated with the introduction of different restriction levels across regional boundaries. From the beginning of lockdown, clarity on how to live [...]
London’s new cycle lanes are causing traffic chaos, says transport secretary October 19, 2020 An influx of new cycle lanes in London and across the country has led to increased traffic congestion, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps has written to local council leaders, warning them that badly designed road closures and new cycle lanes were causing havoc for communities and that he “would not be prepared to [...]
Retail giants urge Sunak to U-turn on abolishing VAT refund for tourists October 19, 2020 A group of 16 UK retail giants has urged Rishi Sunak to U-turn on his plan to abolish the VAT refund for international visitors from next year. The group – which includes the heads of Paul Smith, Ted Baker, The White Company, Fortnum and Mason and Charles Tyrwhitt – said abolishing the VAT refund would [...]