Johnson says he’s more optimistic than Barnier on post-Brexit trade deal July 3, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is more optimistic than European officials about the prospect of Britain securing a post-Brexit trade agreement, but said the UK could still leave the bloc without a deal if needed. Johnson said he was a bit more optimistic than chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier, who said this week that [...]
Rishi Sunak to make an announcement on jobs support next week, says PM July 3, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak will make an announcement on the government’s coronavirus jobs support schemes next week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today. “You’ll be hearing more about what we’re going to do to support people next week from the chancellor Rishi Sunak,” he told LBC in response to a question about what would happen once [...]
UK PMI: Historic slump in private sector activity levelled off in June July 3, 2020 The historic slump in activity in the UK’s private sector levelled off last month as sections of the economy began to reopen following an easing of lockdown measures, new purchasing managers’ index (PMI) readings showed. The final IHS Markit composite PMI reading for last month came in at 47.7 — slightly higher than the flash [...]
Young people face economic ‘scarring’ from Covid, says top think tank July 3, 2020 The coronavirus recession has dealt a double blow to young people in the UK, who are more likely to have lost their jobs amid the lockdown and now face bleak career prospects, a leading think tank has warned. New research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today said the carnage in the hospitality and [...]
Covid Recovery Commission: FTSE 100 bosses unite to set UK economy back on track July 3, 2020 Some of the biggest names in UK business have teamed up to create a pressure group to ensure the economy emerges from coronavirus “stronger and fairer”, its members announced today. The group will be called the Covid Recovery Commission, and will involve the chairs of FTSE 100 powerhouses Tesco and Shell and the chief executives [...]
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds to renew calls for July budget July 2, 2020 Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds will renew calls tomorrow for a July “back to work budget” in her first major set piece speech since being appointed to the role. She will urge chancellor Rishi Sunak to “recognise the scale of the challenge we face” and pledge a summer budget that focuses on “jobs, jobs, jobs”. Dodds, [...]
UK to negotiate financial services trade deal with Switzerland July 1, 2020 The UK and Switzerland have pledged to negotiate a financial services trade agreement to enable cross-border market access after the Brexit transition period ends. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and his Swiss counterpart Ueli Maurer last night said they wanted to reach an agreement that would enable cross-border market access for wholesale financial services relating to insurance, [...]
We should mourn the immeasurable social and economic damage lockdown has inflicted on this country July 1, 2020 I knew it was coming. The torrent of media coverage looking back on 100 days of lockdown like a grossly nostalgic showreel. Carefully crafted articles painting a picture of British resilience and togetherness, celebrating the nation’s bravery and enjoyment of the simple things. I regret to inform you that I will not be spending my [...]
Microsoft to train up 25m people with digital skills in wake of coronavirus crisis June 30, 2020 About 25m workers are set to get free online training in digital skills from Microsoft, as the computer giant bids to give the ailing global economy a boost amid the coronavirus pandemic. The training, which will be available to workers around the world, is designed to teach skills that Microsoft says people need to get [...]
Lockdown propels technological revolution for small businesses June 30, 2020 Small businesses in the UK achieved three years of innovation in just three months during lockdown, new research has found, as the coronavirus crisis spurred British business to adopt unprecedented changes to survive. More than a third of businesses in the UK have changed or are changing their operating model to adapt to new consumer [...]