Rishi Sunak ‘turns his back on’ 1m in need of coronavirus support July 23, 2020 MPs today blasted chancellor Rishi Sunak’s coronavirus support measures, saying he has turned his back on 1m Brits during the coronavirus pandemic. The Treasury Select Committee (TSC) today said Sunak’s response has failed to convince members he had done enough to support Brits impacted by coronavirus. “The chancellor has effectively drawn a line under helping [...]
How badly will the UK unemployment rate spike when furlough ends? July 22, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s furlough scheme has so far saved the UK unemployment rate from sharp increases during the coronavirus lockdown, but it is drawing to an end. Consequently job losses are set to spike after furlough concludes in October, according to economists. Currently the government is paying 80 per cent of over 9m British workers’ [...]
Sadiq Khan suggests London tax autonomy in new TfL bailout deal July 22, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested that the government should consider giving the capital freedom to spend its own tax takings to fund Transport for London (TfL). Speaking to the parliamentary transport select committee this morning, Khan said that one of the options for the future funding of the embattled operator should be “proper fiscal [...]
Legislation day – A vision to reshape and modernise HMRC for the future July 22, 2020 | City Talk As one might expect from Legislation Day, yesterday included the publication of draft legislation ahead of the Autumn Budget. However, the core theme from yesterday’s announcements that accompanied the legislation was the Government’s clear mission to change the role that HMRC plays in tomorrow’s society. This builds from the critical role that the tax authority [...]
These are the City jobs that let you work from home July 21, 2020 Those with higher pay packets are more likely to be able to work from home, official data revealed today, as companies begin to focus on flexible working for their staff. Wealthier workers such as actuaries, economists and statisticians are the most likely to be able to work from home, attracting an average salary of £22.94 [...]
Oxford vaccine could be rolled out by end of the year July 21, 2020 The lead developer of the University of Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine has said that it is possible that it will be rolled out by the end of the year. Speaking to the BBC, Professor Sarah Gilbert however cautioned that there was “absolutely no certainty” that this would be the case. Yesterday scientists hailed a major breakthrough [...]
Oxford coronavirus vaccine safe and triggers ‘strong’ immune response, study finds July 20, 2020 The University of Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine has been deemed safe and induces a “strong response” from the immune system, a new study has found. An initial trial of 1,077 people showed that the injection produced antibodies and white blood cells in patients. The vaccine was “safe, tolerated, and immunogenic”, the study said, with a single [...]
Blackburn risks local lockdown as infection rate surpasses Leicester July 20, 2020 A local lockdown in Blackburn is the “last resort”, the area’s public health official has said, as the Lancashire district surpassed Leicester as England’s coronavirus hotspot. Blackburn and nearby market town Darwen together recorded the highest infection rate in the country in the week to 17 July, according to Public Health England figures. There were [...]
Johanna Kyrklund: Are markets paying enough attention? July 20, 2020 | City Talk Like home-schooled children during the Covid crisis, markets seem to be struggling to pay attention for long. For parents, one of the most difficult parts of lockdown has been home-schooling their children. My social media feed has been full of people tearing their hair out as long-forgotten concepts such as subordinate clauses or trigonometry have [...]
Synairgen hails coronavirus drug trial ‘breakthrough’ July 20, 2020 A new protein-based coronavirus drug could dramatically reduce the number of patients who need intensive care, according to the preliminary results from a trial. FTSE-listed Synairgen today said the trial could represent a “major breakthrough” in the fight to find effective coronavirus drug treatments. Synairgen saw a 79 per cent reduction in the odds of [...]