Gove doesn’t deny free lateral flow phase out plans January 10, 2022 Michael Gove has refused to deny that free lateral flow tests could be phased out in the coming weeks, after another minister asserted that the government would "absolutely not" charge for the kits.
NHS jumps in bed with private sector as Omicron wave forces hospitals to find extra capacity January 10, 2022 Hospitals will be able to use spare capacity in the private sector under a new deal struck with the NHS, while hospitals have been told to find extra beds. The three-month agreement will see private healthcare staff and facilities put on standby to support the NHS should hospital admissions or staff absences due to Covid [...]
As London passes the peak and transport reopens, could it really be a happy new year? January 10, 2022 London may be emerging from the worst of the new Covid-19 peak, with the capital’s public health boss saying London appears to be past the peak of infections and vital transport infrastructure kicking back into gear today. Professor Kevin Fenton, London’s public health director, said the data suggests “we may have passed or are at [...]
Covid-19: London may have passed latest peak over New Year January 9, 2022 London’s latest wave of the pandemic may have passed its peak over the New Year period, the city’s regional director for public health has said. His comments follow the UK’s deaths from Covid-19 surpassing 150,000, as the prime minister admits the “terrible toll” the pandemic has had on the country. “We think we may have [...]
Brexit: EU ambassador hits out at Truss for ‘unhelpful’ comments on NI Protocol January 9, 2022 A war of words between the UK and EU over the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol has reignited just days before negotiations are set to resume. The EU’s ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida today said renewed threats by foreign secretary Liz Truss to trigger Article 16 and suspend the protocol were “unsurprising” and [...]
UK businesses pay more than EU firms for emission trading post Brexit January 9, 2022 UK businesses are paying 10 per cent more than their EU counterparts to trade their emissions following Brexit. As a result of the government’s refusal to link the UK carbon market to the EU’s, British firms pay more than £75 per tonne of CO2, while EU businesses pay up to €85 (£71), the Guardian reported. [...]
Zahawi says cutting Covid isolation period to five days would be ‘helpful’ January 9, 2022 A senior cabinet minister has expressed his support for cutting the Covid self-isolation period from seven to five days. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the measure, which has been recommended by America’s Centre for Disease Control, would be “helpful” for the British economy as the Omicron wave hits its peak. It comes as new analysis [...]
Fintech PrimaryBid on verge of £110m Softbank backed round January 8, 2022 Fintech company PrimaryBid is close to finalising the details of a $150m (£110m) funding round led by SoftBank's Vision Fund II according to weekend reports.
London snub: Branson heads for Amsterdam SPAC listing January 7, 2022 The Virgin Group has drawn up plans to list a new special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in Amsterdam in the coming months, insiders report.
Plan B blows UK economic recovery off course January 6, 2022 The imposition of Plan B in a bid to flush out a wave of Omicron cases whacked the British economy last month, reveals a closely watched survey released today. Brits were encouraged to work from home and limit socialising in December, igniting a mass exodus from city centres and high streets, dealing a heavy blow [...]