Omicron hit to economy: New Covid restrictions may cost businesses £4bn in December December 9, 2021 The UK economy should brace itself for a £4 bn a month hit and see taxpayers foot the bill for more emergency support as new Covid restrictions to clamp down on the spread of the Omicron variant come into force, a think tank has warned. The right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said Plan B [...]
The stages of a Downing Street scandal: first comes anger, then disillusionment December 9, 2021 There is a weary exhaustion to the fall-out of the cheese and wine, secret santa filled Christmas party at Downing Street last year, while many of us were in Tier 3 lockdown. It arrived in a week when we should have been talking about the ghost children missing from our schools, the people who were [...]
Plan B ‘huge blow’ for city centre pubs as night clubs question timing of Covid passports December 8, 2021 Pubs and bars have called the introduction of Plan B Covid restrictions a “huge blow” for the sector, which was hoping to recoup its losses this Christmas. “Make no mistake, this is a huge blow for our sector as it further undermines consumer confidence and is devastating for pubs based near offices and in town [...]
Allegra Stratton quits government after joking about illegal Number 10 party December 8, 2021 Allegra Stratton has quit government, after she was caught out joking about an illegal Number 10 party last year. A tearful Stratton, who used to work in Downing Street but was more recently working for Cop26 president Alok Sharma, said she would “regret the remarks for the rest of my days”. ITV released a video [...]
Square Mile braces for Plan B as businesses say work from home guidance will ‘destroy’ trade December 8, 2021 Businesses in the City of London have said they are preparing for the worst ahead of a reported announcement on a work-from-home message. Multiple media outlets have reported that the Prime Minister is to usher in vaccine passports for large venues and instruct office employees to work from home once more. There will be a press [...]
Plan B: Boris Johnson set to announce new Covid restrictions at 5.30pm today December 8, 2021 Boris Johnson is set to announce new Covid-19 restrictions imminently to deal with the growing cases of the more transmissible Omicron variant. Multiple media outlets are now reporting that Johnson is set to bring in the Plan B restrictions – mandatory face masks and vaccine passports, along with working from home orders – as early [...]
Johnson apologises for Number 10 party video and launches probe December 8, 2021 Boris Johnson has apologised for a leaked video appearing to show his staff joking about an illegal Christmas party last year and has launched a probe into the event. Johnson said he would draft in cabinet secretary Simon Case to investigate whether a party happened at Downing Street on 18 December last year when social [...]
1 in 15 customer service staff have faced death threats as businesses call for better treatment December 8, 2021 Retail staff have said customer abuse has become more aggressive after the shops were hit by stock and labour shortages this year. The Institute of Customer Service, alongside bosses from household names including Marks and Spencers, Sainsbury’s and Wickes, has signed an open letter calling for better treatment of customer service staff. Workers fear abuse [...]
Oil prices steady despite looming pandemic restrictions December 8, 2021 Oil prices remain steady despite reports of key markets potentially introducing more pandemic restrictions ahead of Christmas.
Nightclubs ‘must not be thrown under bus’ as a distraction from Christmas party fury December 8, 2021 Nightclubs are readying themselves for a “devastating” Christmas as rumours swirl over the imminent introduction of fresh Covid restrictions. Multiple newspapers have reported that so-called Plan B restrictions could be announced as early as tonight in a press conference. The restrictions would mean vaccine passports and an instruction to work-from-home once more. Late-night venues had [...]