Chancellor ‘to pay out £7,500 grants’ for self-employed in Budget February 24, 2021 The chancellor will pay out grants of up to £7,500 for self-employed workers in next week’s Budget, though he is considering dropping the scheme from May, according to reports. The fourth round of grants handed out through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will cover February, March and April. People who meet the criteria will [...]
‘Vaccines are working’ against new Covid variants, says Jonathan Van-Tam February 24, 2021 “Vaccines are working” against the Kent Covid variant and will likely reduce the risk of severe disease from new mutations, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Jonathan Van-Tam said the B117 strain of coronavirus first identified in Kent now accounts for around 95 per cent of all Covid cases in the UK. Speaking to [...]
Heathrow plummets to £2bn loss in ‘toughest year in airport’s history’ February 24, 2021 Heathrow Airport plummeted to a loss of more than £2bn last year, amid the “toughest year by far” in its 75-year history, the company announced this morning. The airport crashed to an annual pre-tax loss of £2.01bn for the 12 months to 31 December, down from a profit of £546m in 2019. Revenue plunged 62 [...]
Ibis and Sofitel owner Accor swings to £335m loss as tourism revival splutters February 24, 2021 Ibis and Sofitel owner Accor swings to £335m loss as tourism revival splutters
Skills for jabs: Philippines offers Britain nurses in exchange for vaccines February 23, 2021 The Philippines has said it will let thousands of its healthcare workers, mostly nurses, take up jobs in Britain and Germany, if the two countries agree to donate coronavirus vaccines. The department for health said it was not interested in such a deal and its priority was to use vaccines domestically, but said it would [...]
Survive the last months of lockdown with 35 amazing delivery kits February 23, 2021 Almost a year since the first lockdown, the restaurant world has been forced to change in ways that would have seemed laughable in the pre-Covid times. Top chefs including Simon Rogan are now launching successful at-home delivery platforms that promise to change the face of fine dining for years to come. We have sampled some [...]
Boris Johnson plots domestic vaccine passports for pubs, theatres and football matches February 23, 2021 The Prime Minister has announced plans to explore introducing vaccine passports for entry to pubs, theatres and football matches, marking a major government U-turn after ministers previously ruled out the idea. Boris Johnson said he was confident all Covid restrictions will be lifted by 21 June, after outlining his roadmap for leaving lockdown last night. [...]
What is the Global Travel Taskforce and what can we expect from its report? February 23, 2021 Possibly the most widely cheered of the announcements in yesterday’s roadmap out of lockdown was the suggestion that international travel could begin again on 17 May. Although Boris Johnson cautioned that this would be subject to a number of conditions, airlines, travel firms, and holidaymakers alike rejoiced at the prospect of a full summer holiday [...]
Brits rush to book holidays in hopes of end to travel restrictions February 23, 2021 Brits rushed to book holidays overnight after Boris Johnson yesterday raised the prospect of international travel restarting in time for the long summer break. According to the government’s roadmap for ending lockdown, international travel could start on 17 May at the very earliest. The announcement triggered a surge in bookings, with budget carrier Easyjet reporting [...]
Matt Hancock: International travel could return sooner if vaccines work against new Covid variants February 23, 2021 The health secretary has left the door open for international travel to return sooner than planned this summer if available vaccines work against emerging Covid variants. Unveiling his roadmap for exiting lockdown yesterday, the Prime Minister said international travel will only resume from 17 May at the earliest. Boris Johnson said the government first needed [...]