Johnson to shift focus to tackling crime after ‘pingdemic’ and Patel police row July 25, 2021 Boris Johnson will seek to shift the focus on to tackling crime when he re-emerges from isolation to counter criticism over the “pingdemic” and police anger at Home Secretary Priti Patel. The Prime Minister is expected to unveil his new “beating crime plan” on Tuesday after leaving quarantine at his Chequers country retreat following a [...]
Health secretary Sajid Javid makes ‘full recovery’ from Covid July 24, 2021 Sajid Javid today said he had made a “full recovery” after testing positive for coronavirus a week ago. In a tweet the health secretary said he had recovered from the virus and encouraged Brits to get their jabs. “Symptoms were very mild, thanks to amazing vaccines,” he wrote. “Please — if you haven’t yet — [...]
Can you really afford a puppy? Britain is facing a petcare crisis after a lockdown boom in demand for dogs July 24, 2021 Even the Chancellor of the Exchequer has succumbed to the lockdown-induced rush for puppies. It’s easy to do when one of those furry little faces is staring up at you, especially after the dreary year we’ve had shut up in our homes. While Rishi Sunak can probably afford to look after his new pup, there [...]
Index Ventures invests $1bn into UK startups and will create 5000 jobs within a year July 23, 2021 Transatlantic venture capital firm Index Ventures has raised $3.1bn in new funds and directly invested $1bn in UK startups to create 5000 British jobs in the next year. Index’s latest cash injection comes just a year after Index raised its last set of $2bn funds. The UK is Index’s single largest destination for investments in Europe, and [...]
Keir Starmer self-isolating after child tests positive July 21, 2021 Keir Starmer is the latest politician to go into self-isolation after one of his children has tested positive for coronavirus at lunchtime. “In line with the rules, Keir and his family will now be self-isolating,” announced a spokesperson for the Labour leader. “Keir was already doing daily tests and tested negative this morning. He will [...]
Covid: Government borrowing falls in June July 21, 2021 Government borrowing fell over the last month as the UK economy rapidly rebounds from the damage inflicted on it by Covid, new figures released today show. The government borrowed £22.8bn last month, the second-highest figure for June since records began, according to the Office for National Statistics. However, borrowing eased from May, down from £24.3bn [...]
Covid: Economic scaring to restrict Sunak from announcing giveaways in spending review July 21, 2021 Long-standing damage inflicted on the UK economy by Covid and surging interest costs will restrict Rishi Sunak from announcing any giveaways in his upcoming spending review, according to new research published today. Forecasts published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Britain’s leading independent microeconomic research institute, show the chancellor has little room to manoeuvre due [...]
Downing Street does not deny govt mulls increasing national insurance contributions July 20, 2021 Downing Street has not denied that National Insurance contributions could be increased to fund a new social care plan, in a move that would break a Conservative manifesto pledge. Boris Johnson is reportedly considering plans to raise National Insurance payments by one percentage point for employers and employees to raise £10bn a year to help [...]
Government scales back isolation advice as ‘pingdemic’ hits businesses July 20, 2021 The government has toned down its guidance on whether people should self-isolate when pinged by the NHS test and trace app amid concerns about staff shortages. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, business minister Paul Scully said the app was there to allow people to make “informed decisions”, but added that isolation was “obviously up [...]
Parliamentary inquiry into Cameron Greensill saga says lobbying rules are ‘insufficient’ July 20, 2021 A parliamentary committee looking into the Greensill saga blasted ex-prime minister David Cameron for the “significant lack of judgement” he showed in his support for the failed firm. The “Lessons from Greensill Capital” report by the Commons Treasury Select Committee found that the current ministerial lobbying rules are “insufficient” and “there is a good case [...]