Covid19: Test and trace success rate stays near record low November 5, 2020 Of the 327,203 people identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive between 22 October and 28 October, 59.9% were reached and asked to self-isolate
Coronavirus: Police to toughen action against lockdown rule-breakers November 5, 2020 Police will toughen punishment measures against lockdown rule-breakers after the home secretary told them to “strengthen enforcement”, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has said. Martin Hewitt said those flouting the rules should expect stricter penalties, as England scrambles to contain a sharp spike in new infections. “Not following the regulations and [...]
CBI predicts fourth-quarter contraction and urges long-term thinking November 5, 2020 The UK economy is likely to contract in the final three months of the year as the government’s new England-wide lockdown – put in place to slow coronavirus cases – hits businesses hard, the CBI has said. Britain’s economy faces a “bleak midwinter,” CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith told journalists. It came as the leading [...]
Breaking: MPs vote lockdown into law from midnight tonight November 4, 2020 England will enter a month-long lockdown from midnight tonight, after MPs approved the new shutdown. MPs supported the fresh restrictions by 516 votes to 38 in a House of Commons motion this afternoon. It means pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops will shut from midnight until 2 December. All people in England will be told [...]
Pilots’ union calls for ministers to commit to ending travel ban on 2 December November 4, 2020 The UK’s pilot union has called for the government to commit to end the ban on international leisure travel on 2 December. Under the rules of the new national lockdown, which begins tomorrow, all but essential overseas travel from England will be banned. When the measure was announced on Saturday it was denounced as a [...]
Eyes turn to the Federal Reserve as markets await US election result November 4, 2020 As markets nervously awaited the results of today’s chaotic presidential election, investors’ eyes turned to the US Federal Reserve’s meeting tomorrow. Traders were digesting the state of play so far, and seemed to think that the most likely outcome is a president who doesn’t have control of congress. It comes after President Donald Trump fared [...]
BoE brings forward rate decision ahead of Sunak’s statement on Covid support November 4, 2020 The Bank of England (BoE) has moved the announcement of its November interest rates decision forward to avoid it clashing with a statement on Covid-19 support from the chancellor. The Bank moved the announcement after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Rishi Sunak would make a statement on the government’s coronavirus support measures to Parliament at [...]
How to write a lockdown novel – from a man who did just that November 4, 2020 Thierry Macquet, a Mauritian ex-at living in London, found himself stranded on the paradise island of his childhood when coronavirus rampaged across the globe. To stay sane, he decided to write a lockdown novel, Messages From an Adventurous Ancestor. Here’s how he did it, and some advice on how you can do the same as [...]
Boris Johnson promises businesses new lockdown will end on 2 December November 4, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson reassured British businesses that the new lockdown in England will end on 2 December during a speech to the CBI today, but later said it would “depend on us all doing our bit”. Johnson announced a new month-long lockdown at the weekend. It will come into place tomorrow and will see [...]
FCA outlines payment holiday proposals for struggling borrowers November 4, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined its proposals to bolster support for consumer credit borrowers struggling with the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, the watchdog announced plans to extend payment holidays credit cards, car finance, personal loans and pawnbroking as England prepares to enter a fresh national lockdown tomorrow. Under [...]