MPs amp up pressure to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when lockdown lifts November 25, 2020 The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from his own party to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when England’s lockdown lifts, over fears tough restrictions could cripple businesses in the capital. Reports of government plans to place London in the highest level of restrictions under the new tier system, set to be announced tomorrow, [...]
UK borrowing to hit record £394bn as economy shrinks 11.3 per cent November 25, 2020 Government borrowing is set to soar to a peacetime record of £394bn this year while the economy will contract at the fastest pace since the 1700s thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, according to bleak predictions from the UK’s budget watchdog. The figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) show that unemployment is expected to [...]
Spending review live: Sunak pledges cash for city centres and transport but aid and public sector pay cut November 25, 2020 Spending review live: Sunak pledges cash for city centres and transport but aid and public sector pay cut
Switzerland offers 3,500 work permits for Brits post-Brexit November 25, 2020 The Swiss government has allocated up to 3,500 work permits to let employers recruit staff from the UK, which will no longer be covered by Swiss free-movement rules with the EU post-Brexit. Under the system 3,500 British citizens coming to Switzerland for the first time will be allowed to work in the country. “This ensures [...]
EU prepared for no-deal Brexit, says Ursula von der Leyen November 25, 2020 The European Commission cannot guarantee there will be a trade agreement with Britain, EU chief executive Ursula von Der Leyen has said, adding that the bloc is now prepared for a no-deal Brexit. “The next days are going to be decisive. The European Union is well prepared for a no-deal scenario,” von der Leyen told [...]
Biden: We do not want a guarded border on Ireland November 25, 2020 US President-elect Joe Biden has said America does not want a guarded border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, following Brexit. Speaking to reporters in Delaware Biden said: “We do not want a guarded border. We’ve worked too hard to get Ireland worked out. “The idea of having the border north and south [...]
Tories call for Sadiq Khan to scrap rent control push after policy ‘failed’ in Berlin November 25, 2020 City Hall’s Conservatives are calling for Sadiq Khan to drop his rent control policy, after new analysis this week showed similar measures depleted Berlin’s supply of new flats. The new study showed the supply of rental apartments fell by 41 per cent while demand soared by 172 per cent within a year of Berlin’s rent [...]
DEBATE: Should Rishi Sunak scrap the RPI inflation measure in today’s Spending Review? November 25, 2020 Should Rishi Sunak scrap the Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure in today’s Spending Review? Angus Hanton, co-founder of the Intergenerational Foundation, says YES. We need to say RIP to RPI. Why? Because the use of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) is based on a flawed methodology — one which disproportionately impacts younger generations. From [...]
Breaking: Three households will be able to mix for five days over Christmas November 24, 2020 Up to three households will be able to mix indoors during a five-day Christmas relaxation of lockdown rules, UK leaders have agreed. Under new plans, members of up to three different households will be able to form an exclusive bubble between 23 and 27 December. That will not include hospitality settings, though members of three [...]
Spending review: Rishi Sunak to spend extra £4.3bn on unemployment programmes November 24, 2020 Rishi Sunak will unveil a new £2.9bn unemployment scheme and £1.4bn in extra funding for Job Centre Plus at tomorrow’s comprehensive spending review. A statement from the Treasury said Sunak’s three-year Restart scheme will help 1m people find work, with those unemployed for more than 12 months to get “regular, intensive jobs support”. In 2021-2022 [...]