Exclusive: Government review delays announcement that pubs can reopen June 17, 2020 Downing Street’s plan to announce earlier this week that pubs and restaurants could open on 4 July was delayed by a government review, putting hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk. City A.M. understands that Covid-19 operating guidelines for England’s hospitality sector have been drawn up by the government and are ready to distribute. However, the [...]
Downing Street stands by pension triple lock manifesto pledge June 17, 2020 Downing Street has said it will stick by its manifesto pledge to not break the pension triple lock, despite speculation to the contrary. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said today that there were “no plans to abolish the triple lock and we will always stand by pensioners”. The triple lock, brought in by David Cameron in [...]
Boris Johnson’s plane paint job to cost taxpayer £900,000 June 17, 2020 The cost of Boris Johnson’s plane’s makeover is set to cost British taxpayers £900,000. The RAF Voyager – which is painted grey currently – will have a red, white and blue repaint so it can match the colours of the Union Jack. The Prime Minister’s spokesman told journalists today that the change was needed to [...]
Sadiq Khan takes coronavirus pay cut as City Hall faces £500m black hole June 17, 2020 Sadiq Khan will take a 10 per cent pay cut as he warns that City Hall will have to make cuts to public services without central government help. The mayor of London said he would slash his £152,734 salary by almost £15,300, while warning that the Greater London Authority faces a £493m budget black hole [...]
Brexit: Germany says UK-EU trade talks will enter ‘hot phase’ in September June 17, 2020 The German government is expecting post-Brexit UK-EU trade talks to enter a “hot phase” in September, despite British negotiators claiming they want a deal wrapped up before autumn. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that talks needed “a bit of oomph” and that a deal in July was the aim for UK negotiators. However, [...]
Boris Johnson: Too early to ease two-metre social distancing rule June 16, 2020 Boris Johnson has shot down hopes for an imminent change to England’s two-metre social distancing rule, despite pleas from the hospitality sector. Johnson said the rate of coronavirus incidents had not come down enough to make the change, but to “watch this space”. The news will come as a disappointment for hospitality businesses across England, [...]
Brexit: UK ‘ready to be flexible’ to strike a trade deal in July June 16, 2020 The UK is “ready to be flexible” in post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU in an attempt to secure a deal by next month, according to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove. Gove, the defacto Brexit minister, told MPs today that there was enough time to “bring a deal home” before the 31 December deadline, despite [...]
Department for International Development merges with Foreign Office June 16, 2020 The Department for International Development will be folded into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a major Whitehall shake up. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement during a statement in the House of Commons today, with the new department to be called the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will now [...]
Marcus Rashford scores! Summer free school meals announced for 1.3m students June 16, 2020 An estimated 1.3m children in England will be given free school meal vouchers throughout the summer, after pressure from Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford. Students on the free school meals programme will receive vouchers for the six-week break and they will be worth £15 per child a week, which is in line with existing support. [...]
Boris Johnson expected to merge Foreign Office and International Development Department June 16, 2020 Boris Johnson is expected to announce today that the Department for International Development (DFID) will be folded into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The Prime Minister is slated to make an announcement today in the House of Commons on “global Britain”, with the BBC now reporting that he will announce the merger of the [...]
