Some businesses to be eligible for exemption to self-isolation rules July 20, 2021 Businesses will be able to apply for exemptions to the government’s self-isolation rules amidst fears the so-called pingdemic will cripple the economy. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said vital businesses that maintain the supply of food or medicines, like supermarkets and pharmacies, could be eligible for the exemption. It comes as up to 1m people [...]
Number 10 slaps down London minister for saying people can ignore Covid app July 20, 2021 Downing Street has quickly slapped down London minister Paul Scully for saying it is optional to self-isolate after being pinged by the NHS Covid Test and Trace app. A Number 10 spokesperson said it is “crucial people isolate when they are told to do so” in a clear rebuke to Scully. The minister said this [...]
Vaccine passport compulsory for nightclubs and large events from September July 19, 2021 Vaccine passports are set to be made mandatory for nightclubs and mass events from September amidst low vaccine take-up among younger age groups. Boris Johnson said once all adults have been given the chance to get both jabs by September they will be forced to show proof they are fully vaccinated to enter mass events. [...]
Frost expected to threaten to break with Northern Ireland Protocol on Wednesday July 19, 2021 Boris Johnson’s defacto Brexit minister has confirmed he will update parliament on the Northern Ireland Protocol this week, with rumours swirling he will threaten to deviate from the post-Brexit arrangement. Lord David Frost told a parliamentary committee meeting today that the protocol “must work in a different way if we’re to find the stable route [...]
Labour calls for reimposition of work from home advice on freedom day July 19, 2021 Labour has today called for the government’s work from home advice to be brought back and for face masks to be mandatory just hours 12 hours after Covid restrictions were shed en masse in England. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson’s government needs to “think again on their reckless plan” to leave Covid [...]
Boris Johnson urges caution on freedom day as he continues self-isolation July 18, 2021 Boris Johnson has urged caution as England today is freed from social distancing restrictions for the first time in 16 months. The Prime Minister also outlined once again his five-point plan for how the country will live with Covid-19, which includes reducing the time between vaccines, keeping the Test and Trace regime in place and [...]
UK retail lobby: Self-isolation policy will lead to ‘critical impact’ due to ‘pingdemic’ July 18, 2021 The UK’s retail sector lobby has warned that England’s current self-isolation policy will lead to serious disruption to businesses, with millions of people set to be told to self-isolate in the coming weeks. British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said “something’s got to give” or “we will see some more critical impacts over the [...]
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak at odds over potential health and social care tax July 18, 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are reportedly at loggerheads over the imposition of a new £10bn-a-year tax to cut NHS waiting lists and fix the country’s social care crisis. Johnson and health secretary Sajid Javid are said to be strongly in favour of the new levy, while the chancellor is opposed. The Prime Minister said [...]
Government to make call on vaccinating teenagers ‘within days’ July 18, 2021 The government is preparing to make a verdict on whether to offer the Covid vaccine to teenagers within days, according to housing secretary Robert Jenrick. Jenrick said today that the government was “very sympathetic” to allowing 12 to 17-year-olds get the jab in England and that a decision will soon be announced. Every adult in [...]
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak do quick U-turn and will now self-isolate July 18, 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been forced to make a U-turn and will now self-isolate after being pinged by the NHS Test and Trace app last night. The pair U-turned just two-and-a-half hours after first saying they were taking a part in a pilot that meant they would not self-isolate, after being in contact [...]
