Omicron fears set in at British firms as UK economy hurtles toward contraction December 21, 2021 Omicron fears are embedding into British businesses in a sign that the UK economy is headed for a period of contraction, reveals a new study released today. Business confidence dropped to 32 per cent in early December, down from 40 per cent in just a matter of days from late November, according to Lloyds Bank. [...]
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 [...]
Nightclubs could turn into super spreading events, warns chief scientific adviser July 19, 2021 The Government’s chief scientific adviser has warned that nightclubs could be “potential super spreading events” despite the Government allowing the venues to reopen earlier today. Sir Patrick Vallance said the nightclub environment will allow Covid-19 to spread easier as the Prime Minister laid out plans for venues to require double-vaccination for people to enter from [...]
Treasury must come around to the obvious: The UK needs London December 10, 2021 In the mid-1970s, a bankrupt New York City went begging to the federal government in Washington DC for a bailout. It had got itself into immense financial difficulty; indeed, it was bankrupt. The President, Gerald Ford, effectively said no. The New York Post’s headline the day after was simple, but iconic: “Ford tells City: Drop [...]
Pubs without beer gardens to serve pints in car parks from April March 4, 2021 Pubs without beer gardens will be able to serve takeaway pints in car parks when restrictions are eased in April, the government has confirmed. Licensing rules for pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants were simplified last summer to make it easier for businesses to reopen in line with Covid guidelines after England’s first nationwide lockdown. The Ministry of Housing, [...]
Nadhim Zahawi refuses to rule out vaccine passports for pubs later in the year April 6, 2021 The vaccines deployment minister has refused to rule out introducing Covid jab certifications for indoor pints later in the year, despite admitting they raise “difficult ethical problems”. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Nadhim Zahawi insisted that there would be no vaccine passport requirements when pubs reopen their doors for outdoor service on Monday. [...]
Hospitality staff shortages: One in six jobs currently vacant October 4, 2021 One in six hospitality jobs are currently vacant while the government doubles down on not relaxing immigration rules to ease labour shortages. The Prime Minister said on Sunday that he would not “pull the lever” of more immigration in the short-term to stop lorry driver shortages while ministers have ruled out extra visas for restaurants. [...]
Shakespeare: Spoons set to enjoy post-lockdown rush April 7, 2021 Tim Martin, the founder and chairman of the pub chain JD Wetherspoon, has outlined the company’s plans to invest £145 million in expanding and upgrading its pub estate. Over the next 12 to 18 months the 75 planned projects would establish 18 new pubs, upgrade and extend 57 of its existing pubs, and create 2,000 [...]
Tory outrage grows over Boris Johnson hastily triggering Covid Plan B amid Christmas party scandal December 9, 2021 The Prime Minister is this morning facing anger from Tory MPs after he hastily triggered a switch to his Plan B for coronavirus restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant as Downing Street was engulfed in a crisis over allegations of a rule-breaking Christmas party. Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that work-from-home guidance will return, Covid [...]
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 [...]