Treasury: Furlough scheme now covers 8.4m workers May 27, 2020 The number of people covered by the government’s job retention furlough scheme has risen to 8.4m, the Treasury revealed today. The new figure marks an increase of 400,000 people on last week’s update, with over 1m companies using the scheme. In addition, the value of such claims has now risen to a total of £15bn, [...]
EU unveils €750bn stimulus package for Covid-19 recovery May 27, 2020 The European Commission today unveiled a huge €750bn (£670bn) stimulus package to help lift the bloc out of a sharp recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The package is set to be divided between €500bn in grants and €250bn in loans, which will be borrowed on financial markets and dispersed to member states. Mandarins hope [...]
Government backtracks on review of lockdown fines for childcare reasons May 27, 2020 The government has backtracked on suggestions it may review fines for breaching the coronavirus lockdown where people said they were travelling for childcare-related purposes. At yesterday’s coronavirus briefing, health secretary Matt Hancock was asked by a member of the public if the government would commit to reviewing lockdown fines where someone was travelling for childcare, [...]
Global energy investment set to slump by record $400bn in 2020 May 27, 2020 Global energy investment is expected to suffer its greatest annual fall on record this year due to the coronavirus crisis. Investment is set to crash by $400bn (£325bn) — or 20 per cent — in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). At the start of the year, funding was on track for a [...]
Halfords to reopen 53 stores after Covid-19 lockdown May 27, 2020 Halfords today said it will reopen 53 stores across the UK after it was forced to close down its physical operations due to the coronavirus crisis. The bicycle and car parts retailer was granted essential retailer status following the lockdown, meaning it was able to keep 335 of its 446 stores open. However, these operated [...]
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to face MPs amid Dominic Cummings row May 27, 2020 Boris Johnson will be grilled by senior MPs today as the prime minister faces growing pressure from within his own party to sack top aide Dominic Cummings. Johnson will appear in front of the Commons Liaison Committee for the first time since taking office, with MPs set to ask about the government’s handling of coronavirus. [...]
The City View: Trump, China and the pandemic – with Todd Buchholz, former White House Director of Economic Policy May 27, 2020 In this episode Christian is joined by Todd Buchholz, a former White House Director of Economic Policy, former Managing Director of the Tiger Hedge Fund, now best-selling author, economist and investor. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Todd gives his view on how America is dealing with the crisis and how it could influence the coming [...]
Matt Hancock defends Dominic Cummings as lockdown row continues May 26, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock this afternoon defended Dominic Cummings despite growing pressure on the government over Boris Johnson’s chief aide’s decision to drive to Durham despite the lockdown measures. Speaking at the government’s daily press conference, Hancock said that Cummings’ actions had been “within the guidelines”, saying that they allowed for exceptional circumstances such as [...]
IATA chief: Don’t politicise quarantine measures May 26, 2020 The chief executive of global aviation body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned governments not to use quarantine measures for political purposes. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, French authorities announced that all Uk visitors to the country would have to quarantine for 14 days in response to the UK’s decision to apply blanket [...]
UK coronavirus deaths top 37,000 after increase of 134 May 26, 2020 The UK’s death toll from coronavirus has risen by 134 to 37,048 according to figures released today by the Department of Health. Yesterday, the Department of Health said 121 people in the UK died with coronavirus, the second-lowest 24-hour death toll since March. However, there is usually a lag in the figures reported at weekends [...]