Boris Johnson: Too early to ease two-metre social distancing rule June 16, 2020 Boris Johnson has shot down hopes for an imminent change to England’s two-metre social distancing rule, despite pleas from the hospitality sector. Johnson said the rate of coronavirus incidents had not come down enough to make the change, but to “watch this space”. The news will come as a disappointment for hospitality businesses across England, [...]
Businesses call on chancellor to support UK hydrogen strategy June 16, 2020 More than 40 companies have written to Rishi Sunak calling on the chancellor to lay the foundations for a UK-wide hydrogen strategy to power the country’s post-coronavirus recovery. The companies, which include industrial giants such as Anglo American, Bosch, Equinor, Siemens and EDF, said they were ready to invest £1.5bn in hydrogen fuel projects around [...]
Labour calls for emergency ‘back to work’ summer Budget June 16, 2020 Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is calling for an emergency summer Budget and stimulus package that focuses on job creation. Dodds has dubbed it a “back to work Budget” and has called on chancellor Rishi Sunak to focus on combating potential structural unemployment caused by the coronavirus crisis. New figures from the Office of National [...]
No set timescale for two-metre social distancing review June 15, 2020 There is no set timescale for the government’s review into the two-metre social distancing rule in England and a decision is “weeks away”, according to Downing Street. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told journalists today that it would be a “comprehensive review”, but gave few details on what would be included. “It will be a [...]
Treasury mulls over temporary VAT cut to boost economy June 15, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a temporary VAT cut to help boost consumer demand and confidence. The Treasury is considering either a blanket cut in VAT or a more targeted reduction in a bid to stimulate the faltering economy. The measure would mirror the temporary VAT cut taken by former chancellor Alastair Darling during the [...]
Over 1m ‘locked out’ of coronavirus income support schemes, MPs warn June 15, 2020 The government must extend its coronavirus income support measures to cover over a million people who have “fallen through the gaps” in the schemes, MPs said. In a report published this morning, the influential Treasury Select Committee (TSC) said large numbers of people were suffering financial hardship because they are unable to benefit from the [...]
Three in ten independent retailers to stay shut today June 15, 2020 Thirty per cent of independent retailers are planning to keep their doors closed today, as lockdown restrictions ease and allow some shops to reopen. Just over a third of stores predicted they would be trading at pre-lockdown levels by December 2020, rising to 56 per cent who felt they would be back to normal by [...]
Coronavirus death toll in UK rises by lowest since lockdown began June 14, 2020 The death toll in the UK from confirmed cases of coronavirus has risen by 36 to 41,698, the government said today. The increase is the lowest recorded since 22 March, the day before Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented lockdown measures. The daily tally of deaths related to Covid-19 usually dips over the weekend due to [...]
Rishi Sunak goes shopping as retail prepares to reopen June 14, 2020 Rishi Sunak visited a Waterstones yesterday as retail businesses across England prepare to reopen tomorrow. Sunak inspected some of the safety measures that the bookstore had implemented, such as screens between checkout workers and customers. England’s 7,000 high streets will open tomorrow as a part of the government’s easing of the lockdown. All shops that [...]
Robert Jenrick in further ties with property tycoon Richard Desmond June 14, 2020 Further links housing secretary Robert Jenrick and property tycoon Richard Desmond have been revealed in light of the government’s controversial decision to approve a £1bn housing development. The Observer reported today that Jenrick held a background briefing on his work to reform the UK’s planning system at an event hosted by public relations firm Thorncliffe, [...]