More than half of London businesses ‘are not prepared’ for local lockdown October 13, 2020 Almost 60 per cent of London businesses have no plan in place for a local lockdown, according to new research, as the London mayor today warned the capital could see tighter restrictions within the next few days. Only 41 per cent of companies in the capital currently have a plan in place to deal with [...]
The mayor must speak up for ambitious Londoners and for businesses — not call for further restrictions October 13, 2020 Sadiq Khan is arguably under more scrutiny — and subject to some of the harshest criticism — than any politician in the country. Much of it is unfair. London remains a city with an illusion of a mayor, rather than one with the power to make decisions for the good of the city and its [...]
Enough with the fear — it’s time we began to accept this virus October 12, 2020 Covid-19 is the biggest change we have experienced for generations. And like every major change that is forced upon us, the secret to success is to overcome our fears and begin to accept it.
Almost unnoticed, Europe hurtles into decline October 12, 2020 The string is almost played out. Despite a generation of frantically trying to change the subject — be it by focusing on their own arcane (and very boring) institutional struggles, the problems of other countries (usually the US), or fatuously announcing that every obvious setback is merely a chance to move “the project” of European [...]
Astrazeneca partners up with Thailand for vaccine manufacture in Southeast Asia October 12, 2020 Thailand has announced it will partner up with Astrazeneca to scale up production of its potential coronavirus vaccine, as the pharmaceuticals company seeks to strengthen manufacture of the drug further afield. The Thai Ministry of Public Health today said it will roll out “large scale manufacturing” of the potential Covid vaccine at Siam Bioscience in [...]
Mayor warns London faces new restrictions ‘very soon’ October 12, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that the capital faces fresh lockdown restrictions “very soon” to quell a rapid rise in infections. Khan said it is “highly likely” that Londoners will face further measures to stem the spread of the virus ”because cases are rising so quickly across the city”. It comes as the number [...]
Coronavirus: Hospitality industry to take legal action over local lockdowns October 12, 2020 Britain’s hospitality industry is set to take legal action against new lockdown restrictions around the country that it said will have “catastrophic” consequences for the sector. The industry’s biggest trade bodies will today hand Downing Street a legal challenge to the emergency legislation, as the government prepares to announce a new three-tier system that will [...]
Government set to unveil new UK coronavirus restrictions October 12, 2020 The UK government is today expected to announce a raft of new restrictions to tackle the growing second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister will unveil a three-tier system designed to simplify the UK’s local lockdown restrictions. Leaders from the Liverpool City Region said last night that it will be placed in the [...]
Business bodies urge chancellor to ‘go further’ with new furlough scheme October 9, 2020 Businesses in the hospitality sector have said Rishi Sunak’s support package “must go further” to avoid wide-scale job losses, after the chancellor today unveiled a new furlough scheme for businesses facing local lockdowns. Sunak today said the government will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to businesses forced to shutter under fresh lockdown measures. Firms [...]
Rishi Sunak extends furlough scheme for businesses facing lockdown October 9, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme for six months for businesses across the UK required to close under local lockdowns, as further restrictions loom ahead for parts of England. Sunak today said the government will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to businesses forced to shutter under fresh lockdown measures. Firms whose premises [...]