Christmas plans could change last minute in light of mutant virus, says minister December 23, 2020 Christmas plans across the country could be changed last minute if the government feels it is appropriate to do so, with less than 48 hours to go before Christmas Day. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick this morning said restrictions could change ahead of Christmas in light of the spread of a new, more infectious variant of [...]
Another month of decline for UK car production as industry calls for Brexit deal December 23, 2020 UK car production fell again last month as the industry urged Brexit negotiators to “seal the deal”. New figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), factories produced just 106,243 vehicles, last month. It represents a 1.4 per cent drop year-on-year – a better performance than other months this year – [...]
The Bunglers of Calais: Shapps says “agreement” struck on Channel chaos December 22, 2020 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said an “agreement” has been reached with the French Government on travel across the Channel. Some 3,000 lorries are backed up at Dover, with many in a holding area at Manston Airport. Any agreement is likely to require testing for Covid-19 on one or both sides of the border. The [...]
An Italian (stuck) abroad: ‘The hardest part was telling my family’ December 22, 2020 Fortunato Benavoli, 39, is a London-based make-up artist. Born in Italy, he has lived in London for 12 years. After booking flights following the government’s promises about Christmas, he is now spending the day alone in his London flat, far away from hs family. He told us his about his frustration with the way the [...]
Can bitcoin $100,000 in 2021? & altcoin season is about to begin! December 22, 2020 Over the past few weeks the price of bitcoin has risen astronomically with institutional adoption really taking off. There has been much speculation about whether this is a short term rally that will be swiftly halted by over-regulation in the USA or the start of a bitcoin bull run to $100,000. Given that institutions are [...]
UK headed for fresh produce shortages if Dover jam is not eased tomorrow December 22, 2020 The UK is heading for fresh produce shortages as soon as Christmas ends if the chaos at Dover is not eased in the next 24 hours. The UK has faced nearly 48 hours of chaos at the port of Dover after France shut its border with the UK, including to those carrying freight to the [...]
Patel refuses to rule out further Tier 4 restrictions as mutant virus spreads December 22, 2020 Home Secretary Priti Patel has refused to rule out a new year lockdown, as a new, more infectious variant of coronavirus spreads across the country. This morning Patel said the government was willing to take stronger measures if the virus continued to spread in the UK. Speaking on Sky News, she said: “If new strains [...]
Border closures force Toyota to shut three plants early for Christmas December 22, 2020 Toyota plans to shut production at three plants in Britain and France early for Christmas, due to likely part shortages as a result of border closures. Toyota’s plant in Deeside, Wales, will close from today, and its vehicle plant in Burnaston will close from tomorrow. In France, its site at Onnaing will shut its doors [...]
Andrew Bailey faces another tough year at Bank of England in 2021 December 22, 2020 Mark Carney must be thanking the gods he stepped down as Bank of England governor in early March. Since then, his successor Andrew Bailey has had to steer the historic institution through the worst economic downturn in 300 years, complete with a bout of market panic in the spring. Under Bailey’s leadership the Bank slashed [...]
Our ultimate guide to last-minute Christmas spirits, including our whiskies of the year December 21, 2020 Christmas may be ruined, but things always look better through the bottom of a bottle. If you were planning on stocking up on last-minute gifts before the big day, you may have to rethink. But the silver lining of this new lockdown means you can claw back a few days to pick up the ideal [...]