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 [...]
FTSE 100 bounces back as investors absorb impact of mutant strain December 22, 2020 The FTSE 100 inched into the green on Tuesday even as the prospect of another national lockdown loomed amid concerns of a new strain of coronavirus. London’s blue-chip index opened 0.43 per cent lower to 6,388 points before bouncing back to trade up 0.35 per cent by 9.30am. The more domestically focused FTSE 250 is [...]
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 [...]
Chris Tremlett: Why Zak Crawley’s double century was my cricket highlight of 2020 December 22, 2020 How a player starts their international career can be defining, so my cricket highlight of 2020 was a young man laying down a marker. Zak Crawley’s double century for England in the third Test against the West Indies during the summer was really impressive. A performance like that should fill the 22-year-old Kent batsman with [...]
Sainsbury’s warns of gaps on shelves if Dover chaos is not sorted December 21, 2020 Sainsbury’s has warned that gaps will start to appear on shelves within days if transport ties are not quickly restored with mainland Europe. The transport of freight across the English Channel has been disrupted after France suspended travel links with Britain yesterday to try to curb a new faster spreading strain of Covid-19. The supermarket [...]
Breaking up Christmas dinner ‘will not be a priority’, says senior police officer December 21, 2020 Eight people having Christmas dinner together will not be a priority for the police on Christmas Day, according to a senior police officer, despite those in Tier 4 being told not to mix at Christmas. Police Federation chair John Apter told Sky News there would not be extra police on shift during Christmas, and that [...]
Shapps claims ‘this is not unusual’ ahead of emergency Cobra meeting on Dover December 21, 2020 Boris Johson will hold a meeting with the government’s emergency committee this morning after France closed its border with the UK following a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus in the South East of England. Last night the French government banned all travel from the UK for 48 hours, including freight drivers. The move comes [...]
Pound traders brace for tense week as Brexit talks continue December 20, 2020 Sterling traders are gearing themselves up for another nervy week amid fears that a collapse in Brexit talks could spark a sharp sell-off in the pound. Negotiations are ongoing, but noises from both camps suggest they remain stuck on fishing rights and competition policy. British health secretary Matt Hancock this morning told Sky News that [...]
Brexit talks continue as UK demands EU withdraw “unreasonable demands” December 20, 2020 Sticking points including fisheries and the level-playing field continue to plague Brexit talks as they enter the final stages. The European Parliament has set an effective deadline of midnight today if it is to be ratified in time for the UK’s departure on December 31. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News this morning: “We [...]
Tier 4 lockdown until widespread vaccine rollout, Health Secretary warns December 20, 2020 Matt Hancock has warned that an effective lockdown across London and the South East will continue until a sizable part of the population is vaccinated. Speaking to Sky News this morning, Hancock warned that the new variant of the Covid-19 virus was “out of control.” “Given how fast the variant spreads it is going to [...]