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 [...]
Cummings: Johnson resisted lockdown as Covid deaths only among elderly July 20, 2021 Dominic Cummings has alleged that Boris Johnson was reluctant to introduce stricter Covid restrictions amid a surge in cases last autumn because he thought the disease was only killing the over 80s. “I no longer buy all this NHS overwhelmed stuff” Cummings said the prime minister had messaged him. Cummings claimed that Johnson wanted to [...]
New £375m investment scheme for high-growth firms opens for application July 20, 2021 The government has today opened a new £375m pot of funding to invest in fast-growing firms across the sectors such as life sciences and clean tech. To be eligible for the so-called “Future Fund: Breakthrough” scheme, businesses looking to raise at least £30m must have 70 per cent of an investment round already committed by [...]
Stellantis to axe shift at Vauxhall plant due to staff shortages July 19, 2021 Stellantis has become the latest carmaker to have its operations disrupted by the number of workers that are being forced to isolate due to Covid-19. The firm today confirmed that it would halt one of the three daily shifts at its Vauxhall van factory in Luton. In a statement, the car giant said: “The safety [...]
NHS Test and Trace: Covid app’s sensitivity will not be tweaked as hundreds of thousands of people self-isolate July 19, 2021 The NHS Covid-19 app will not have its sensitivity tweaked, Downing Street has confirmed, despite industries warning of staff shortages as England lifts almost all coronavirus restrictions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are among the hundreds of thousands of people currently self-isolating due to being alerted by NHS Test and Trace that [...]
Credit disagreement: the future of the high street depends on how we handle retailers’ Covid debt July 19, 2021 It is a commonplace that the pandemic has devastated the economy. The prospects of recovery may be rosier than we had dared imagine, but businesses have suffered grievously, especially those for whom in-person custom, footfall, is vital. One sector which has been hit particularly hard is independent retail. The death of the high street has [...]
Surging inflation to add £10bn to government’s debt burden July 19, 2021 Surging inflation is likely to add £10bn to the government’s debt burden, putting further pressure on the UK’s public finances. Around a quarter of the government’s stock of debt is linked to the retail price index, meaning the Treasury needs to increase interest payments to savers if prices rise. Read more: UK inflation hits 2.5 [...]
Steak on the menu? Hawksmoor ponder IPO option for continued expansion July 19, 2021 Investors may soon be able to cut into a juicy Hawksmoor steak, according to reports. The high-end restaurant group, renowned for its steak, is working with stockbroker Berenberg to assess demand should it decide to list on the London Stock Exchange. The Times first reported the news. Read more: Government unveils new ‘hospitality strategy’ to [...]
Boris Johnson urges caution on freedom day as he continues self-isolation July 18, 2021 Boris Johnson has urged caution as England today is freed from social distancing restrictions for the first time in 16 months. The Prime Minister also outlined once again his five-point plan for how the country will live with Covid-19, which includes reducing the time between vaccines, keeping the Test and Trace regime in place and [...]