Will take ‘days’ to clear Dover chaos, says minister December 23, 2020 It will “take a few days” to clear the lorry queues at Dover, according to housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. Last night transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an “agreement” had been reached with the French Government on travel across the Channel after around 3,000 lorries have backed up at Dover in the last 48 hours. The [...]
Christmas plans could change last minute in light of mutant virus, says minister December 23, 2020 Christmas plans across the country could be changed last minute if the government feels it is appropriate to do so, with less than 48 hours to go before Christmas Day. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick this morning said restrictions could change ahead of Christmas in light of the spread of a new, more infectious variant of [...]
Coronavirus drives down London vacancies a third in 2020 December 23, 2020 The number of jobs up for grabs in the capital has declined by nearly a third (32%) this year as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. In the UK on average hiring has dropped by more than a fifth (22%) this year, with the hospitality sector hit particularly hard. In hospitality the number of vacancies [...]
An Italian (stuck) abroad: ‘The hardest part was telling my family’ December 22, 2020 Fortunato Benavoli, 39, is a London-based make-up artist. Born in Italy, he has lived in London for 12 years. After booking flights following the government’s promises about Christmas, he is now spending the day alone in his London flat, far away from hs family. He told us his about his frustration with the way the [...]
UK headed for fresh produce shortages if Dover jam is not eased tomorrow December 22, 2020 The UK is heading for fresh produce shortages as soon as Christmas ends if the chaos at Dover is not eased in the next 24 hours. The UK has faced nearly 48 hours of chaos at the port of Dover after France shut its border with the UK, including to those carrying freight to the [...]
OBR: April furlough extension will cost further £3bn December 22, 2020 The Chancellor’s decision to extend the furlough scheme an extra month will cost an extra £3bn, according to new official figures. Rishi Sunak has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until the end of April, one month later than had been originally planned. Sunak also announced that the Government’s three loan schemes would be extended [...]
Corona Impact Series: A North London stationery brand forced to go digital December 22, 2020 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. Today: how a small paper goods chain was forced to accelerate its digital transformation. “At the start of the first lockdown we had to close our five brick-and-mortar stores pretty much overnight,” sighs [...]
Some 1,500 trucks stacked up at Dover as chaos continues December 22, 2020 There are now around 1,500 lorries parked up in side streets, on motorways and in laybys as chaos continues at the port of Dover. On Sunday France made a surprise decision to shut its border with the UK, in an attempt to stop a new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus spreading through the country. [...]
Patel refuses to rule out further Tier 4 restrictions as mutant virus spreads December 22, 2020 Home Secretary Priti Patel has refused to rule out a new year lockdown, as a new, more infectious variant of coronavirus spreads across the country. This morning Patel said the government was willing to take stronger measures if the virus continued to spread in the UK. Speaking on Sky News, she said: “If new strains [...]
Border closures force Toyota to shut three plants early for Christmas December 22, 2020 Toyota plans to shut production at three plants in Britain and France early for Christmas, due to likely part shortages as a result of border closures. Toyota’s plant in Deeside, Wales, will close from today, and its vehicle plant in Burnaston will close from tomorrow. In France, its site at Onnaing will shut its doors [...]