UK Government urges all over-70s to contact NHS for Covid vaccine February 8, 2021 The NHS has changed its messaging to urge all over-70s to book themselves in for a Covid vaccine, the health secretary has announced
‘No reason to believe’ South African variant will become dominant in UK, says Jonathan Van-Tam February 8, 2021 England’s deputy chief medical officer has allayed fears over the spread of a new South African variant of coronavirus, insisting there is “no reason to believe” the mutant strain will become dominant in the UK. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Jonathan Van-Tam said the South African variant has now become the dominant strain [...]
No jab, no job policies ‘discriminatory’, says Downing Street February 8, 2021 Requiring employees to get vaccinated as part of so-called “no jab, no job” policies is “discriminatory”, Downing Street has said, despite mandatory vaccinations receiving support from several government ministers. “Taking a vaccine is not mandatory and it would be discriminatory to force somebody to take one,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson told journalists this afternoon. [...]
No hotel quarantine contracts have been signed with just one week to go until launch February 8, 2021 The government has not signed a single contract with any hotel firms despite its mandatory hotel quarantine policy set to come into effect in just one week’s time. All arrivals to the UK from around 30 “red list” countries will be required by law to quarantine for 10 nights at a government-selected hotel from 15 [...]
Labour calls for government to ‘crack down on cronyism’ amid PPE contracts saga February 8, 2021 Labour has urged the government to “crack down on cronyism” as it claims almost £2bn of taxpayer money has been awarded to “friends and donors” of the Conservative party during the pandemic. In an online speech, shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said the awarding of contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic [...]
UK terror threat lowered to ‘substantial’ February 8, 2021 The terror threat level in the UK has dropped from “severe” to “substantial” following a reduction in incidents across Europe. Home secretary Priti Patel announced this morning that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has lowered the British national terrorism threat level, while warning that “a terrorist attack is still likely”. Patel said the decision [...]
Millions will need third Covid vaccine dose in the autumn February 8, 2021 Millions of people will likely need a third vaccine dose in the autumn, amid growing concerns that the Astrazeneca jab may not be effective against the new South African Covid variant. It is understood that NHS chiefs are planning for the extra doses to be given alongside annual winter flu jabs, after a new study [...]
Government to invest £40m in helping businesses reduce carbon footprint February 6, 2021 The government is set to invest £40m in helping polluting industries reduce their carbon footprint as the Prime Minister attempts to cozy up to US President Joe Biden’s new green agenda. Businesses in Britain’s energy-intensive sectors, including pharmaceuticals, steel, paper and food and drink, will be able to apply for their share of the cash [...]
German finance minister lashes out at EU vaccine drought February 6, 2021 Germany’s finance minister has renewed tensions within the bloc following a high-profile tussle last week over EU vaccine shortages. Olaf Scholz told the BBC this afternoon he was “angry about some of the decisions that were taken last year”, among suggestions that the EU failed to order sufficient vaccine supplies for its member states. So [...]
British banks set to hand out hundreds of millions in staff bonuses February 6, 2021 Britain’s largest banks are finalising plans to hand out hundreds of millions of pounds in staff bonuses next week, at the same time loan losses are expected to catapult during the pandemic. Taxpayer-backed lender Natwest Group has informed the Treasury that it is poised to distribute more than £200m in staff bonuses for 2020. The [...]
