FTSE 100 closes higher after upbeat UK earnings October 20, 2020 The FTSE 100 recovered from an early fall to close in the green after a day of positive quarterly earnings, although residual fears over coronavirus and new restrictions remain. London’s blue-chip index fell 0.3 per cent but crept back through the day to close up by the same margin at 5,899 points. The FTSE 250 [...]
Hospitality sector bangs pots and pans in Parliament Square to call for further government support October 19, 2020 Chefs, farmers, waitresses and caterers took their pots and pans to Parliament Square today to make their calls for further government support for the hospitality sector heard across Westminster. Hundreds of workers from the food and drink industry urged ministers to provide fresh funding to save wide-scale job losses and venue closures, as further restrictions [...]
London hospitality industry marches on parliament – live updates October 19, 2020 Members of the London and UK hospitality industry are staging a protest on Parliament Square, urging the government to revise its policies relating to hospitality venues. Reporter Poppy Wood is down in Westminster: follow live updates and responses here. Update 11:50 Chef and restaurateur Jason Atherton tells City A.M. that “what Boris Johnson has done [...]
London’s new cycle lanes are causing traffic chaos, says transport secretary October 19, 2020 An influx of new cycle lanes in London and across the country has led to increased traffic congestion, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps has written to local council leaders, warning them that badly designed road closures and new cycle lanes were causing havoc for communities and that he “would not be prepared to [...]
Tony Blair accused of breaching Covid restrictions after not quarantining October 18, 2020 Tony Blair has been accused of breaking the UK’s Covid restrictions, after being seen out at a restaurant when he should have been quarantining. Photos have emerged today in the Sunday Telegraph of the former prime minister leaving a restaurant in Mayfair last month just 10 days after arriving back from the US. He had [...]
Back to Business: How East London baker Lily Vanilli changed direction to cope with covid October 16, 2020 Who are you and what do you do? I’m Lily Jones from Lily Vanilli, a baker and cake decorator based in East London. I have a weekend cafe on Columbia Road and make creative cakes and pastries to order for home delivery, weddings and events, as well as consulting for other brands and businesses. How [...]
Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin slams lockdown measures as ‘total chaos’ after pub chain sinks to loss October 16, 2020 JD Wetherspoon shares sank more than 13 per cent this morning as the pub chain swung to a loss for the first time since 1984 during the pandemic. Chairman Tim Martin slammed recent lockdown measures as “total chaos”, after months of closures during the coronavirus crisis hammered the pub group’s sales and revenue. The results [...]
What the new London lockdown measures mean for YOU October 16, 2020 Millions of Londoners will face tougher restrictions from Saturday, as the capital is set to shift from Tier 1 to Tier 2 from midnight tonight. Ministers were briefed on the new measures this morning, following a sharp spike in coronavirus cases across the capital. Health secretary Matt Hancock later confirmed that Essex will join London on “high” [...]
London lockdown: Will the City’s small businesses survive new restrictions? October 15, 2020 Small firms in the City of London have spent the summer in lockdown trying to survive and adapt to the government’s coronavirus regulations. Pubs, shoe repair shops, barbers, dry cleaners and cafes have battled to survive the initial forced closure during lockdown, followed by a sharp decline in City footfall as most office workers remained [...]
London Tory MPs call for extra support for businesses facing Tier 2 restrictions October 15, 2020 A growing number of London’s Conservative MPs are calling for the government to extend more financial support to businesses dealing with Tier 2 restrictions as Boris Johnson faces a growing backbench rebellion. The capital will be moved into the Tier 2 Covid category on Saturday, meaning social mixing between households will be banned indoors. The [...]