There’s a real prize for the UK to lead when it comes to distributed digital ID March 11, 2021 Crypto AM Parliamentary Special as Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE continues his series of articles on the Financial Services Bill.
Reading attacks: Government undertaking ‘biggest overhaul of terrorism laws in decades’ June 22, 2020 The government is currently undertaking the “biggest overhaul” of anti-terrorism laws in decades, Priti Patel said today, as the home secretary visited the site of a terror attack in Reading that took place over the weekend. A 25-year-old man, named yesterday as Khairi Saadallah, is currently being detained under terrorism powers after the stabbings on [...]
Government trials new ‘no-swab’ saliva test for coronavirus June 22, 2020 A new “no-swab” coronavirus test using patients’ saliva is set to be piloted in Southampton starting this week, the government has announced. More than 14,000 GP staff, essential workers and university staff will participate in the first phase of the trial, which they will be able to complete at home using their own saliva, the [...]
Why it’s easier to spend bitcoin than £50 notes January 15, 2021 Recently a friend of mine came into possession of a number of £50 notes. If I told you too much I would have to kill you, but it apparently involved a number of Covid-19 tests, a trip to Pakistan, some Kashmiri carpets and a large man from Barbados. I know some interesting people. I thought [...]
Rishi Sunak to outline future of furlough scheme tomorrow May 11, 2020 The government will set out details about the future of the coronavirus job retention scheme tomorrow, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. The furlough scheme, which is paying 80 per cent of wages for more than 6m British workers, is currently due to run until the end of June. But chancellor Rishi Sunak has reassured [...]
Major UK retailers urge chancellor for immediate business rates suspension March 17, 2020 Major British retailers have called on the chancellor to go further with measures to protect the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors from the dramatic economic impact of coronavirus. Primark, Arcadia and New Look are among the firms to sign a letter this afternoon urging Rishi Sunak to immediately suspend business rates bills until normal trading [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group raises £57m amid coronavirus crisis April 9, 2020 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group has raised £57m through a share placing to shore up its finances amid the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurant Group completed the equity raise this morning after announcing it last night. In a statement the company said: “The placing is expected to provide sufficient liquidity for the Company to deal with this [...]
Losses at UK’s top restaurants jump to £151m June 1, 2020 Losses at the UK’s top 100 restaurants increased to £151m last year, a figure that will only worsen as the industry grapples with the impact of the coronavirus. Figures from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young show a 94 per cent increase in losses, from £78m the year before. The government has tentatively set out plans [...]
Coronavirus: Selfridges and Harrods cut opening hours March 17, 2020 Luxury department stores Harrods and Selfridges have scaled back their opening hours in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. Selfridges said it will be open between 11am and 7pm Monday to Saturday at its London, Birmingham and Manchester stores. Sunday trading hours will remain the same. Meanwhile Harrods announced that from today it [...]
London hospitality industry marches on parliament – live updates October 19, 2020 Members of the London and UK hospitality industry are staging a protest on Parliament Square, urging the government to revise its policies relating to hospitality venues. Reporter Poppy Wood is down in Westminster: follow live updates and responses here. Update 11:50 Chef and restaurateur Jason Atherton tells City A.M. that “what Boris Johnson has done [...]