Covid: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen forced to self-isolate October 15, 2020 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been forced to leave a crunch EU leaders’ meeting to self-isolate, after a member of her front office tested positive for Covid. Von der Leyen said she had tested negative today, however would still self-isolate as a precautionary measure. It comes as the European Council began the [...]
US election: Kamala Harris suspends campaign as aide tests positive for Covid October 15, 2020 Joe Biden’s Vice President candidate Kamala Harris has suspended her campaign, after her communications chief today tested positive for Covid. Harris, a Senator from California, has cancelled campaign events until the end of the week as a precaution. The Democrats have been very cautious during the election campaign, deciding against having the traditional large scale [...]
London Tory MPs call for extra support for businesses facing Tier 2 restrictions October 15, 2020 A growing number of London’s Conservative MPs are calling for the government to extend more financial support to businesses dealing with Tier 2 restrictions as Boris Johnson faces a growing backbench rebellion. The capital will be moved into the Tier 2 Covid category on Saturday, meaning social mixing between households will be banned indoors. The [...]
Brexit: Macron and Merkel clash over hopes for UK trade deal October 15, 2020 Hopes for a trade deal with the EU remained ambiguous at today’s EU summit, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel disagreeing over whether the UK will secure a deal before the Brexit deadline. Macron told a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels today: “I hope to finalise a Brexit deal in [...]
London lockdown: Khan warns of ‘dark winter ahead’ as city moves to a Tier 2 ban on household mixing October 15, 2020 Mayor Sadiq Khan has sent a stark warning to London, telling people they face a "dark winter" as Tier 2 restrictions are placed on the capital.
Goldman Sachs: Brexit drama ahead but thin deal could be reached October 15, 2020 There could be Brexit-related drama at this week’s EU summit but a thin Brexit deal is likely to be struck by early November, Goldman Sachs analysts said. “We think the perceived probability of ‘no deal’ will persist through the course of October,” analysts led by Sven Jari Stehn wrote in a client note. “But our [...]
Boris Johnson turns his back on today’s Brexit trade deal ‘deadline’ October 15, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not walk away from Brexit negotiations today, despite setting a 15 October deadline for reaching an “outline” for a trade deal with the EU. Johnson signaled that he will not decide whether an agreement with the bloc is possible before today’s EU summit in Brussels, following advice from Brexit envoy [...]
Business groups warn London lockdown would ‘crumble’ capital as mayor calls for support October 15, 2020 A London lockdown would “crumble” businesses and turn the capital into a “ghost town”, leading business bodies have warned City A.M, as fresh restrictions are likely to be imposed on the city in the next few days.
Pay attention, London: Nicola Sturgeon’s spat with Alex Salmond could scupper her mission to break up the UK October 15, 2020 At a time when Londoners are all focusing on the latest lockdown restrictions, wondering what will become of our jobs, and asking if Trump or Boris will still be in post this time next year, does anyone other than expat Scots care who wins the stair-heid rammy between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond? But care [...]
Government paying test and trace consultants equivalent of £1.5m salary October 14, 2020 The UK government is paying some management consultants the equivalent of more than a million pounds a year to work on the coronavirus test and trace system that its own scientists have criticised. Some senior-ranking consultants at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) are being paid around £7,000 a day, Sky News reported. That would amount to [...]