Starmer calls for clear plan on vaccination rollout November 16, 2020 Labour leader Keir Starmer has called on the Prime Minister to publish a “comprehensive national action plan” for rolling out a future coronavirus vaccine. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer welcomed the news of potential vaccines for the coronavirus and said he is prepared to work with the government to roll them [...]
Restrictions confusion and lockdown fears stunt white collar job openings November 16, 2020 Regional tiered restrictions confusion and rumours of a national lockdown stalled white collar hiring in October, with contract vacancies dropping -1%, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). The latest data found that while month-on-month vacancy numbers saw little to no change, the year-on-year percentage drop slightly increased for October following several months [...]
Don’t let lockdown ruin your weekend: From take away pints to virtual clubbing November 14, 2020 As we enter the second weekend of lockdown 2, things seem rather bleak. As if the total closure of bars, restaurants, galleries, cinemas and theatres wasn’t enough, it’s also forecast to rain for most of the weekend. Thankfully, we’re here to cheer you up a bit. With the latest movies to stream, restaurant delivery boxes [...]
NHS providers urge Rishi Sunak to invest extra £4bn due to Covid challenges November 13, 2020 NHS providers sent a letter to Rishi Sunak today demanding he increases investment in the NHS by £4bn, in light of the upcoming public spending review on 25 November. The letter is co-signed by Chris Hopson and Saffron Cordery, respectively the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, the membership organisation for the [...]
BoE warns insurers are being ‘optimistic’ in Covid-19 estimates November 13, 2020 Insurers risk being optimistic in estimating losses from Covid-19 related claims and should stress-test their underlying assumptions, the Bank of England has warned. In a letter to insurers today, the BoE set out its findings from a review across the general insurance sector on reserving, managing exposures and dealing with uncertainty over contracts in light [...]
G20 agrees new debt restructuring framework in wake of pandemic November 13, 2020 G20 finance ministers have for the first time agreed a new common framework for restructuring government debt, amid concerns poorer countries will need unprecedented debt relief packages in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Major creditors including China are expected to follow the fresh guidelines, which set out legislation to reduce or reschedule debt deemed [...]
Working from home may put women at a disadvantage: Warwick University November 13, 2020 Women who worked from home during the UK’s first lockdown reported a larger average decline in their productivity compared to men, according to a study published by Covid Economics. Women with children were worse affected than childless women. Ben Etheridge, an economics professor at Warwick University, led the study. He said that governments should consider [...]
Covid alliance raises $2bn to distribute vaccine to poor countries November 13, 2020 An alliance backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has exceeded its target of raising more than $2bn (£1.5bn) to buy and distribute 1bn Covid-19 vaccines for poorer countries. The Gavi Covax alliance today announced it will buy an initial 1bn doses for 92 eligible countries which would otherwise not be able to afford it. [...]
U.N chief to push G20 to further expand debt service suspension November 12, 2020 United Nations secretary-general António Guterres will push G20 leaders to expand debt service suspension to help developing and middle-income economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing a virtual annual ministerial meeting attended by the Group of 77 – a collection of 134 developing countries – plus China, Guterres said: “Many developing countries are suffering from [...]
ECB turns to emergency bonds and ultra-cheap loans to control financial costs November 12, 2020 The ECB will use its emergency bond-buying and ultra-cheap loans to banks as the primary instruments to control financing costs, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde told the ECB’s annual forum on central banking this evening. The EU heavyweight said financing costs for governments, households and businesses in the eurozone will stay “exceptionally favourable” until [...]