Khan: ‘Pingdemic’ places business recovery ‘in jeopardy’ July 24, 2021 Sadiq Khan has today written to Boris Johnson to urge him allow fully vaccinated people to return to work immediately after a negative Covid-19 test if they are ‘pinged’ by the NHS’ app. From 16 August, double jabbed people will no longer have to isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who [...]
‘Pingdemic’: Transport workers set for exemption, Shapps says July 23, 2021 Some transport workers will be exempt from having to isolate if they are “pinged” by the NHS Covid-19 app, the government has announced this evening. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said that testing would be introduced at a number of key transport sites around the country. It comes after a number of rail franchises announced that [...]
New visa planned for graduates of ‘top global universities’ July 23, 2021 Individuals who have attended a “top global university” will be eligible to move to the UK without a job offer under a new scheme unveiled today. A new “High Potential Individual” route will be introduced, the government has announced as part of its new innovation strategy. The government said that the scheme would make it [...]
London Tories call for Khan to reopen van and lorry scrappage scheme July 23, 2021 London’s Conservatives have today written to Mayor Sadiq Khan urging him put £50m from City Hall’s business rates reserves towards reopening scrappage schemes for vans and heavy vehicles ahead of the expansion of the ULEZ zone. Although Khan has so far provided £61m to drivers looking to trade in non-ULEZ compliant vehicles, the van and [...]
CMA urges action to fix electric vehicle charge point ‘postcode lottery’ July 23, 2021 The UK’s competition watchdog has today urged the government to accelerate the roll-out of its electric vehicle charging points, describing the current situation as a “postcode lottery”. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that it was particularly concerned by the choice and availability of chargepoints at motorway service stations. It also said that the [...]
Beazley shares pop as insurer heads back to the black July 23, 2021 Shares in insurer Beazley popped this morning after the FTSE 250 firm said that it had swung back into profit in the first half. By midday, the firm’s stock was up 7.0 per cent at 386.60p, their highest levels in 10 months. For the period, it posted profit of $167.3m, up from a $13m loss [...]
Cobham locks on to rival Ultra with £2.6bn takeover offer July 23, 2021 The board of defence firm Ultra have this morning signalled their approval of a £2.6bn takeover bid from rival FTSE 250 company Cobham. In a statement, the firm said that it had received a £35.00 per share non-binding offer from Dorset-headquartered Cobham, which it said was “at a value the Board would be minded to [...]
Energy sector hits out at automatic switching plans July 23, 2021 The energy industry has reacted with dismay to the government’s plans to tackle the so-called “loyalty tax” on energy customers. Under proposals laid out this morning, the government will trial automatic switching to move customers on expensive default energy tariffs to cheaper deals. From 2024, consumers on costly tariffs would be automatically switched to cheaper [...]
GSK taps insider to run spin-off consumer health business July 22, 2021 The current boss of Glaxosmithkline’s consumer healthcare division will take over the top job when the unit is spun off into its own business next year. The demerger, which will see majority ownership of the new firm transferred to its shareholders, is the biggest shake-up of the pharma giant’s business in decades. GSK chairman Jonathan [...]
Mercedes to invest €40bn in electric cars over next decade July 22, 2021 Mercedes-Benz will invest €40bn (£34.3bn) into battery electric vehicles over the next decade, owner Daimler announced today, as the race to ditch the internal combustion engine continues apace. The German marque said that by the end of the decade the majority of its sales would be of electric vehicles, but did not commit to a [...]
