BBC to show more repeats amid “tough period” for the broadcaster June 16, 2020 The BBC has said it will show more repeats over the summer and output will be “thinner” over the next year after the coronavirus pandemic forced the broadcaster to scrap its filming schedule. Speaking to ministers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee hearing today, senior executives said the BBC [...]
MPs set to vote on parliament return after virtual proceedings June 2, 2020 MPs are set to vote on whether to drop virtual proceedings in the House of Commons amidst growing opposition to the changes. Westminster returns today after a recess, with House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg tabling a motion that would bring to an end the hybrid parliament of the past two months. This would mean [...]
Governors call on ministers to drop plans to bring back all primary school children before summer holidays May 31, 2020 School governors have called on the government to drop its plans for all primary school children to return to school before the summer holidays, a day before some pupils are due to return. At the moment, the government’s intention is that all primary school age students will return for the final four weeks of term [...]
Sir Patrick McLoughlin appointed as Visit Britain chairman May 26, 2020 Former Conservative Party chairman and transport secretary Sir Patrick McLoughlin has been appointed as chair of the British Tourist Authority. McLoughlin, who was MP from Derbyshire Dales between 1986 and 2019, will chair the Visit Britain tourism board for three years from 1 June, it was announced this morning. He was government chief whip from [...]
Shakespeare’s Globe at risk of collapse due to coronavirus crisis May 18, 2020 Shakespeare’s Globe has warned that unless it receives emergency funding it will collapse due to the “devastating” financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis. The London theatre, which has been closed since 20 March, told MPs it had run out of cash and was “critically vulnerable” in the wake of the pandemic. It said it would [...]
Government urged to help property market recover amid UK house price slump May 14, 2020 The government has been urged to provide measures to help the property market to recover, after the latest research warned that UK house prices are set to plunge this year. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) reiterated its call for a stamp duty holiday to encourage buyers , warning that UK house prices were [...]
UK house market to restart as government relaxes regulations May 12, 2020 The government has relaxed lockdown rules from tomorrow to allow the UK house market to restart. Under the new regulations people will be able to visit estate agents, view properties and move house without breaking lockdown rules. Those involved will be expected to observe social distancing rules and wear gloves or masks where necessary. The [...]
London house market set for £52bn post-lockdown splurge as transactions stall May 11, 2020 London property buyers could be set to splurge £52bn once the lockdown is lifted due to huge pent-up demand as coronavirus brings the market to standstill. The figure represents the potential spend for residential buyers and marks a 20 per cent increase on the same time last year. It comes as the number of lost [...]
Coronavirus: London’s NHS Nightingale to be placed ‘on standby’ May 4, 2020 London’s NHS Nightingale is being put “on standby”, with no new coronavirus patients expected at the temporary hospital. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said today that the makeshift hospital, located at the Excel centre, was being mothballed due to limited demand. The hospital was built to handle up to 4,000 Covid-19 patients, however fewer than 20 [...]
Sketch: The tech giants dance to their own tune in Zoom parliament April 30, 2020 “Have you ever met Mark Zuckerberg?” the culture select committee asks, wasting no time in getting to the real issues about the spread of fake news during the coronavirus crisis. Facebook’s UK public policy manager, a bespectacled millennial sat predictably next to a potted plant, looks nonplussed via webcam. “I have seen him,” he says [...]