Pandemic far from over in China: Rumours fly Beijing is preparing thousands of new Covid beds May 3, 2022 Beijing is preparing new hospital facilities to deal with a spike in Covid-19 cases. Unofficial reports online say thousands of beds have been prepared in a centralised quarantine centre near the airport, but state media has not confirmed those preparations in what could be an attempt to avoid stoking public fears. A 1,000-bed hospital at [...]
Expect no help: Boris Johnson warns any state support to fight cost of living crisis merely pushes up inflation even further May 3, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted this morning his Government is doing “everything we can” to help with the cost-of-living crisis. However, Johnson hinted there is only so much he can do because, in an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the Prime Minister warned that increasing state support beyond its current levels could drive inflation [...]
Netflix cancelling Duchess of Sussex a ‘disaster’ for Harry and Meghan’s production company Archewell May 3, 2022 The cancellation by Netflix of an animated children’s series by the Duchess of Sussex is a big blow for Meghan and Prince Harry, a royal expert has said. Rafe Heydel-Mankoo said this morning: “That’s a complete disaster for Harry and Megan and Archewell Productions.” “Netflix is having big problems with a dip in subscriber numbers, [...]
Are you a liar, Prime Minister? No, I am an ‘honest’ politician and merely got partygate ‘wrong’, says Boris Johnson May 3, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson this morning insisted he is an “honest” politician while he did admit to being “inadvertently” wrong in his comments to Parliament about the partygate row. Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain today, the Prime Minister said that he should not resign over the partygate scandal because he is “getting on with [...]
It’s on: Staff at FCA to go on strike tomorrow and Thursday in ‘historic first’ for City watchdog May 3, 2022 It is confirmed: Staff at the Financial Conduct Authority are to go on strike this week in a dispute over pay and conditions. Members of Unite at the financial regulator will walk out on Wednesday and Thursday, and stage a protest outside the organisation’s head office in London and another site in Edinburgh. Unite said [...]
Boost for embattled hospitality sector: Heineken goes on UK hiring spree as beer giant creates 700 new pub jobs May 3, 2022 Dutch beer giant Heineken has said this morning it will create more than 700 jobs across the UK as part of a £42m investment plan into its pub operation. The brewing company said that 660 pubs – more than a quarter of its Star Pubs & Bars venue business – will be upgraded as part [...]
Would-be sponsors of Ukraine refugees threaten to drag Priti Patel and govt to court over visa delays May 3, 2022 Would-be sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme are threatening the Government with legal action on behalf of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who have spent weeks waiting to come to the UK. A class action lawsuit is being prepared over “inordinate and unreasonable delays” in processing hundreds of visa applications made in March. Figures [...]
McColl’s shares to be suspended from LSE as accounts cannot be signed off by auditors May 3, 2022 Struggling convenience store business McColl’s is set to have its shares suspended from the London Stock Exchange as bosses said they would be unable to get its accounts signed off by auditors in time. The retailer has been in discussions with potential lenders to shore up the business, which struggled badly during the pandemic due [...]
John Lewis planning to lure hundreds of engineers as it plots big retail push online May 3, 2022 Retail giant the John Lewis Partnership is zooming in further on its online operations as it is planning to recruit for more than 150 roles in engineering and delivery driving. John Lewis, which also owns Waitrose supermarket, said its recruitment drive will help grow its online stores, which together have more than 55m visits a [...]
Today: Tens of thousands of Post Office workers stage a strike as they demand more pay May 3, 2022 A one-day strike by Post Office workers in a dispute over pay started this morning. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in April. The union said the strike is over a pay freeze for 2021 and the offer of a 2 per cent increase from April this [...]