Morrisons directors quit in corporate governance row March 26, 2020 Two Morrisons non executive directors have quit, reportedly due to a disagreement over corporate governance at the supermarket. Neil Davidson, chair of the corporate compliance and responsibility committee, and Tony van Kralingen, remuneration committee chair, have stepped down and will cease to be directors from 26 and 29 April respectively. The grocer said today that [...]
Coronavirus: P&O Ferries temporarily lays off workers March 26, 2020 P&O Ferries will reportedly temporarily furlough more than 1,000 workers, using the government’s recently announced job retention scheme to pay staff during the coronavirus crisis. Workers will be paid their basic salaries, with the government funding 80 per cent and P&O topping up the rest. The English Channel operator said on Wednesday that it will [...]
Coronavirus: Retailers pause online shopping over safety fears March 26, 2020 Retailers have started to close down their online operations as well as physical stores in response to the coronavirus outbreak, citing concerns over the safety of their warehouse workers. High street chains Next, Moss Bros and River Island have today temporarily closed their internet shopping services, despite government guidance that online retailers can continue to [...]
Coronavirus: Police get power to arrest or fine those breaking lockdown rules March 26, 2020 Police have been given the power to arrest or issue fines of £60 to people found to be breaching the UK coronavirus lockdown rules. In a bid to enforce the restrictions that were announced on Monday evening, police can issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within [...]
UK coronavirus: Death toll jumps by more than 100 in a day March 26, 2020 The UK coronavirus death toll has jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time, reaching 578 in total. As of 5pm this evening, 115 people across the UK had died in the previous 24 hours after contracting the virus. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 11,658. [...]
Primark refuses to pay rent bill amid coronavirus crisis March 25, 2020 Budget retailer Primark has today reportedly refused to pay its rent bill after closing all of its stores due to the coronavirus pandemic, as fears mount that some retailers will never reopen after the outbreak. Primark has written to landlords to tell them it would not meet its quarterly rent payment due on 110 leasehold [...]
UK coronavirus: Death toll reaches 465 March 25, 2020 The coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 465 after a further 28 people in England died after contracting the virus. In total, 414 people in England have died from Covid-19, while 22 have died in Scotland and Wales and seven died in Northern Ireland, the Guardian reported. Today’s overall UK increase of 43 [...]
Coronavirus: Off-licences added to list of essential retailers March 25, 2020 Off-licences have been added to the government’s list of essential retailers that are permitted to stay open during the UK coronavirus lockdown. Off-licences and “licenced shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries” have today been reclassified as essential stores, amid reports that supermarkets were beginning to sell out of beer and wine. Customer stockpiling saw [...]
Coronavirus: Wetherspoon to pay workers under jobs retention scheme March 25, 2020 JD Wetherspoon will pay its 43,000 workers under the coronavirus jobs retention scheme after the pub chain faced backlash from employees. All staff will be paid on Friday for hours worked last week, and the first payment under the new scheme will be made on 3 April and weekly from then on, the company said [...]
UK coronavirus: Which retailers are open under lockdown rules? March 25, 2020 The government announced a UK coronavirus lockdown on Monday evening, putting limits on work, socialising and going outside. Addressing the nation, the prime minister said “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home”. Boris Johnson said police will break up public gatherings of more than two people, [...]