Sadiq Khan calls for coronavirus inquiry into BAME deaths May 17, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for a government inquiry into BAME deaths from coronavirus. Khan today called the higher rate of deaths among BAME ethnicities “shocking” and called for Boris Johnson to set up a public inquiry. Numbers published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this month revealed that black men and women were four-times [...]
Oxford University coronavirus vaccine trial strikes AstraZeneca distribution deal May 17, 2020 The government has given another £84m toward the UK’s two coronavirus vaccine trials as the Oxford University team has struck a licensing deal with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. The Oxford trial will get another £65.5m, while the Imperial College London trial will get another £18.5m. Business secretary Alok Sharma also announced at today’s press briefing that the [...]
Hiscox policyholders set to launch legal action against firm over coronavirus claims May 17, 2020 A group of Hiscox policyholders angry at the insurance giant’s decision to exclude coronavirus-related disruptions from its business interruption policies have been given the go-ahead to launch legal action against the firm. According to law firm Mishcon de Reya, over 400 policyholders with nearly £40m in claims have joined the Hiscox Action Group. The law [...]
Public trust in UK government’s coronavirus response continues to fall May 17, 2020 The public’s trust in the UK government’s coronavirus strategy is in freefall, according to the latest polling. An Opinium/Obsever poll out today shows the government now has a net -3 rating for how it has handled the coronavirus, after having a +60 rating in mid-March. A YouGov/Sky News poll out today also showed a -2 [...]
Brexit trade negotiations: UK increases preparations for no-deal May 17, 2020 The UK is gearing up preparations to walk away from Brexit trade negotiations with Brussels in June and to exit the EU transition period on 31 December without a deal. The third round of negotiations were completed on Friday, with both sides expressing frustration at the slow progress of talks. UK chief negotiator David Frost [...]
Coronavirus lockdown: Al fresco dining could be allowed within weeks May 17, 2020 Some restaurants, pubs and coffee shops could be allowed to open within weeks, which would be a month earlier than expected. Ministers are reportedly considering plans to allow hospitality venues to open in outdoor areas in what would be a boost to the sector. The plans would allow pubs, restaurants and coffee shops with outdoor [...]
OBR chief rules out post-crisis ‘v-shaped’ economic recovery for UK May 17, 2020 The head of the government’s independent budget watch dog has said a quick, “v-shaped” economic recovery is very unlikely for the UK as it comes out of the Covid-19 lockdown. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) director Robert Chote said today that people should “expect a slower recovery than the v-shaped” recovery first predicted by [...]
Former LSE boss Rolet joins Shore Capital as non-exec chairman May 17, 2020 The former boss of the London Stock Exchange Xavier Rolet has joined brokerage firm Shore Capital as the chairman of its capital markets business. In his decade at the head of London’s bourse, Rolet transformed the LSE into one of the world’s largest indices by market capitalization. When he joined, its valuation stood at £800m, [...]
HS2: MPs say controversial rail project ‘badly off course’ May 17, 2020 MPs have slammed the controversial HS2 rail project, saying that the scheme is “badly off course” and calling for far greater transparency from its executives. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee criticised the body for failing to provide an accurate picture of the project’s health when providing evidence to the committee. It also [...]
Treasury mulling plans for ‘bad bank’ to manage stakes in bailed-out firms May 17, 2020 The Treasury is considering plans to develop a so-called “bad bank” in order to hold stake in bailed out companies, the Sunday Times reported, amid fears that key firms could fail due to the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative reflects similar steps taken by the Labour party during the 2008 financial crisis, when it set up [...]
