Budget 2020: Sunak continues fuel duty freeze March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced fuel duty will be frozen for another year. The freeze was first announced in 2010 by then chancellor George Osborne and has remained in place ever since. 36 conservative MPs had written to the Sunak asking him to keep the freeze in place. “I am pleased to announce today that [...]
Chancellor Rishi Sunak extends sick pay amid coronavirus fears March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak today announced that sick pay measures will be extended to anyone advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus. In his Budget speech this afternoon, Sunak said anyone in isolation will be able to get a sick note by calling 111, while payments will be made from day one rather than day four. The [...]
Budget 2020: Business rates cut for more small leisure and retail firms March 11, 2020 Small retail, leisure and hospitality businesses will be exempt from paying business rates for one year as part of an emergency budget to protect the economy from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. All retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be exempt from paying business rates over [...]
‘My goal is to return to Red Bull’: Pierre Gasly ready to bounce back after rollercoaster 2019 March 11, 2020 Few will have experienced the emotional rollercoaster that Formula One driver Pierre Gasly did in 2019. Six months into his first season with Red Bull the Frenchman was demoted back to their junior team, Toro Rosso. The same weekend his close friend, Anthoine Hubert, was killed in a horrific crash in Formula Two. “Last year [...]
Debenhams appoints headhunters for new chief executive March 11, 2020 Struggling department store Debenhams has reportedly launched a search for a new chief executive as restructuring expert Stefaan Vansteenkiste prepares to step down after less than a year. Vansteenkiste is set to leave the role within months, after taking over in August, and headhunter Spencer Stuart has been brought in to find a replacement, Sky [...]
Silvertown Tunnel contract costs increase by £200m March 11, 2020 The cost outlay for the controversial Silvertown Tunnel appears to have risen by £200m to £1.2bn. Transport for London (TfL) last night publicly released the contract it had finalised with the Riverlinx Consortium in November. The twin bore road tunnel, which is opposed by many environmental groups and local councils, will connect Greenwich with the Docklands [...]
German economists call for more spending to tackle coronavirus March 11, 2020 Leading German economists have called on Angela Merkel’s government to increase spending and defer taxes to tackle the economic fallout from coronavirus. Germany agreed a package of measures on Sunday night that aim to help companies struggling with disruption to supply and demand and include €12.4bn (£10.9bn) in state investment. In a letter to Chancellor [...]
Tech giants summoned to Downing Street in coronavirus crackdown March 11, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has summoned major tech firms to Downing Street tonight as the government cracks down on misinformation about coronavirus. Executives from all big social media companies are set to attend the Tech CEO Round Table, where they will be asked to commit “data, assets and expertise” to the fight against the outbreak. [...]
Treasury deep-cleaned on eve of Budget after official’s partner tests positive for coronavirus March 11, 2020 The Treasury was deep cleaned last night on the eve of today’s Budget announcement after an official’s partner tested positive for coronavirus. Officials have been told they can work from home today, despite it being one of the biggest days in the fiscal calendar. The Treasury confirmed a Buzzfeed report that the unnamed official has [...]
Cathay Pacific predicts substantial loss due to ‘unprecedented’ coronavirus hit March 11, 2020 Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific has said that the “unprecedented challenge” of coronavirus will see it suffer a substantial loss this year after the outbreak forced it to ground over half its fleet. The airline has been one of the carriers which has been worst affected by the outbreak, which came on the back [...]
