Number 10 pours cold water on speculation UK pubs will open on 22 June June 8, 2020 Downing Street has poured cold water on reports that parts of the hospitality industry will be re-opened two weeks ahead of schedule on 22 June. Reports in the Financial Times and The Times today said ministers were looking at re-opening the sector on 22 June for venues that can serve patrons in outdoor spaces. However, [...]
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine approved for use in the UK December 2, 2020 The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved for use in the UK, with roll out planned for early next week, becoming the first Western country to approve a vaccine. The UK’s independent health regulator has approved the vaccine, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine [...]
Boris Johnson doubles support for self-employed during new lockdown November 2, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a doubling of support for the self-employed during England’s new coronavirus lockdown and an extension of the deadline for government-backed business loans. Johnson addressed the House of Commons this afternoon after announcing a month-long lockdown on Saturday. MPs will vote on the new measures on Wednesday, with both Labour [...]
Coronavirus: Cabinet ministers ‘push to cut two metre social distancing rule’ June 9, 2020 A majority of Boris Johnson’s cabinet ministers are said to be putting pressure on Downing Street to relax the two-metre social distancing rule to contain coronavirus. The Prime Minister, who will chair a cabinet meeting today, is thought to be sympathetic to calls to dispense with the two-metre rule, amid a clamour from the hospitality [...]
Boris Johnson: UK ‘rediscovered a spirit of togetherness’ in ‘grim’ 2020 December 31, 2020 Boris Johnson has used his New Year’s Eve message to say the UK has “rediscovered a spirit of togetherness” in 2020, but that there “will be plenty of people who will be only too happy to say goodbye to the grimness of 2020”. The Prime Minister also said the UK approval of two Covid vaccines [...]
UK pubs face permanent closure without extra support, industry warns April 20, 2020 Thousands of UK pubs could struggle to survive the coronavirus lockdown without additional financial support, the industry has warned after the government indicated that the sector could be among the last to see restrictions lifted. The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the government to announce extra support for the industry amid [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for government clarity on local lockdown powers June 29, 2020 Sadiq Khan has urged the government to provide more clarity on what powers local authorities have to deal with regional coronavirus outbreaks. The mayor of London wrote to health secretary Matt Hancock today to ask if councils had the power to implement local lockdowns and for additional resources in the case of localised flare ups. [...]
One restaurateur’s plea: How am I doing? How the f*** do you think I’m doing? January 20, 2021 How am I doing? How the f*** do you think I’m doing? At every turn I politely say “struggling on” or another platitude: “smiling on the outside, crying on the inside.” But let’s put this into perspective. Pied à Terre has been on Charlotte Street for almost 30 years, 28 of those with a Michelin star. Other [...]
Sadiq Khan urges PM to shut all London schools as cases spiral December 14, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called on the government to consider shutting all schools and colleges in London until January, following a “significant” spike in coronavirus cases among teens. In a letter to Boris Johnson, the mayor of London said “urgent consideration must… be given to closing secondary schools, sixth form and FE colleges a few days [...]
Labour calls for two to three week lockdown in England October 13, 2020 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a two to three week “circuit breaker” in England that would plunge the country back into lockdown. Starmer called for the England lockdown at a televised press conference today, saying the measure was “in line with Sage’s recommendations”. Sage, the government’s primary scientific advisory body, published papers [...]