Boris Johnson sets out new Covid-19 alert levels for lockdown exit May 10, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a new Covid-19 alert system that will measure the level of risk from the pandemic and determine the UK’s lockdown exit strategy. In a speech this evening Johnson said the Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by the reproductive rate of the virus — known as R — [...]
Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski beefs up Metro Bank stake May 10, 2020 Colombian tycoon Jaime Gilinski has tightened his grip on Metro Bank after ramping up his stake in the troubled lender. Gilinski, formerly the largest investor in TSB’s Spanish owner Sabadell, has increased his holding to nine per cent, the Sunday Times reported. In December the mogul, who holds his stake through British Virgin Islands-based Spaldy [...]
Virgin Atlantic launches desperate plea for government support as buyout firms circle May 10, 2020 The chief executive of Virgin Atlantic has issued a last-ditch plea for a government bailout as a string of buyout firms circle the troubled carrier. Sir Richard Branson’s airline has failed to impress the Treasury with its request for a £500m taxpayer-funded rescue package, with chancellor Rishi Sunak stating support would be given only as [...]
Retailers call for shop reopenings based on safety standards May 10, 2020 The reopening of shops after the coronavirus lockdown should be based on safety standards rather than size or business type, a top retail chief has said. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said she expected a “gradual lifting” of the restrictions, with schools and transport the first to reopen. But she [...]
Adverts in adversity: Johnny Hornby on the case for advertising through Covid-19 May 8, 2020 There’s no doubt the advertising industry has taken a battering in recent weeks, with the coronavirus crisis sparking the biggest fall in ad spend on record. In fact, with TV production on hold, it seems brands may have to turn to Zoom to keep their campaigns going. The downturn comes as little surprise. Marketing budgets [...]
Uber leads $170m investment round in scooter startup Lime May 7, 2020 Bike and scooter-sharing startup Lime today said it has secured a $170m (£138m) in a fresh funding round led by Uber. Google owner Alphabet, its investment arm GV and Bain Capital are also among the backers taking part in the investment round, the company said. As part of the cash injection, Lime will take control [...]
Boris Johnson to announce ‘very limited’ lockdown easing May 7, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a very limited easing of the UK lockdown from next week as authorities seek to restart the economy without sparking a second wave of infections. Johnson will announce the next phase of the country’s virus strategy on Sunday following a review by ministers of the current lockdown, [...]
UK firms face ‘Darwinian culling’, warns ad mogul Martin Sorrell May 7, 2020 Scores of British companies face being wiped out in a “Darwinian culling” caused by the coronavirus crisis, advertising veteran Sir Martin Sorrell has warned. In a bleak prediction of the UK’s economic outlook, Sorrell said the country was “dramatically underprepared” for the pandemic and only the strongest firms would survive. “You feel it in the [...]
How the O2-Virgin Media merger will reshape the telecoms sector May 7, 2020 O2 and Virgin Media this morning confirmed they will join forces in a mammoth merger that will create a new £31bn telecoms powerhouse. The deal — reports of which first emerged last week — came as little surprise to industry watchers, though the timing of the deal in the middle of a global pandemic has [...]
Shares in Mirror publisher Reach jump despite Covid-19 revenue hit May 7, 2020 Shares in Daily Mirror publisher Reach jumped as much as 12 per cent this morning as “unprecedented” demand helped to offset investor concerns about a decline in revenue. The newspaper group, which also owns the Daily Express and a host of regional titles, reported a 13.1 per cent decline in revenue in the four months [...]
