Bosses beg for help as new Tier 4 restrictions shutter 50,000 businesses December 24, 2020 Some 50,000 more businesses have shut their doors as a result of the latest Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, causing panic among affected industries. Yesterday afternoon health secretary Matt Hancock announced Tier 4 restrictions would be extended to cover almost all of the South of England from Boxing Day. Tier 4 restrictions are largely the same [...]
The City A.M. Punter Podcast EP:32 Kempton & Chepstow Christmas meetings December 24, 2020 The King George at Kempton is always the main feature at this time of the year, and we will preview this year’s renewal, along with the stamina sapping Welsh National and other top races over the Christmas period with City AM racing editor Bill Esdaile. Trainer David Pipe joins us to discuss the chances of [...]
Trevor Steven’s heroes and villains of football in 2020 December 24, 2020 From Jack Grealish to Liverpool becoming champions of England again at last, the resurgence of Everton and Leeds to empty stadiums and bad rule changes; football in 2020 may have felt different but it was still eventful. Here, City A.M. football columnist Trevor Steven picks his heroes and villains of this unique year. Greal deal [...]
Alibaba under investigation by China for monopoly tactics December 24, 2020 Alibaba is under investigation by Chinese regulators for alleged monopolistic practices, in the latest blow for Jack Ma’s fintech and e-commerce empire. The probe is part of an accelerating crackdown on anticompetitive behavior in China’s booming internet space, and the latest setback for Ma, the 56-year-old former school teacher who founded Alibaba and became China’s [...]
The Government scientists’ credibility is shot to pieces December 24, 2020 Imagine. No, not the silly childish song by John Lennon. Imagine there were no vaccines available. What would Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health, do? He might ask people to pay more attention to the scientific advice. But the plain fact is that the credibility of Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and [...]
What the UK watched in 2020 December 24, 2020 Terrible, wonderful, and every shade in between: 2020 is not a year any of us will ever forget. But as marketers with eyes firmly on the future, we must take what we’ve learned into 2021 — a year that is certainly full of hope, but not of certainty. The dramatic shifts in consumer behaviour are [...]
Brexit deal close as negotiators reach outline December 23, 2020 The outline to a UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal has been agreed, according to multiple reports. A statement is expected either late this evening or tomorrow morning. The framework of the deal is believed to have settled outstanding issues including fishing. The deal is expected to predominantly cover goods trade, with financial services regulators having already [...]
Premier Inn owner Whitbread asks landlords for 50 per cent rent cut December 23, 2020 Premier Inn owner Whitbread has asked its landlords for a rent cut of 50 per cent, as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions continue to affect trade. Whitbread sent a letter to its landlords, urging them to “share some of the pain of lockdown,” according to reports. Whitbread, which also owns Beefeater and Brewers Fayre brands, [...]
Festive cocktails, whether you’re fully stocked or the cupboard’s bare December 23, 2020 What a short-lived foray back into the great restaurants, bars and pubs of London that was! Like many restaurateurs and publicans across the country, I don’t mind being told to close my venue for the good of the nation (although there is still no evidence that hospitality contributes significantly more than other sectors to the [...]
BREAKING: Another new mutation of Covid-19 spreading in UK from South Africa December 23, 2020 A new mutation of Covid-19 is spreading in the United Kingdom, having arrived from South Africa. The variant, which is considered to be even faster to spread than the mutation announced last week, is highly contagious. Anybody who has been to South Africa in the last two weeks, and any close contacts of anybody who [...]
