MPs amp up pressure to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when lockdown lifts November 25, 2020 The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from his own party to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when England’s lockdown lifts, over fears tough restrictions could cripple businesses in the capital. Reports of government plans to place London in the highest level of restrictions under the new tier system, set to be announced tomorrow, [...]
Coronavirus measures to have ‘devastating’ impact on UK hospitality sector March 16, 2020 The UK’s pubs and restaurants have called on the government to offer urgent financial help after Boris Johnson advised people to avoid social gatherings, in what could be a death knell for London’s pubs, restaurants and leisure businesses. The prime minister urged the public to practice “social distancing” by staying at home rather than eating [...]
O2 to extend 4G coverage in 400 UK tourist hotspots ahead of staycation summer June 29, 2020 O2 is set to expand its 4G coverage to 91,000 new postcodes this year, including almost 400 of the UK’s biggest tourist hotspots, as the UK prepares for a summer of “staycations” following the coronavirus crisis. The telecoms firm today said it will work to eradicate rural coverage “not-spots” across the UK as the country [...]
What pubs, cinemas and hairdressers will look like under new lockdown rules June 25, 2020 The government has published new lockdown rules spelling out what pubs, restaurants, museums, theme parks, cinemas and hairdressers will look like when they reopen on 4 July as the UK finally emerges from months of lockdown. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday announced that the UK’s “long national hibernation is beginning to come to an [...]
Breaking: Matt Hancock extends Tier 3 to most of southeast England December 17, 2020 The health secretary has extended Tier 3 to almost all of the southeast of England following a huge surge in cases, thought to be the result of a new coronavirus mutation. Speaking in the Commons, Matt Hancock said: “In the last week hospital admissions are up by nearly half. It is therefore necessary to apply [...]
Happy hour: Government slashes business rates for smaller pubs January 25, 2020 Sajid Javid has announced plans to cut £1,000 in business rates for smaller pubs from April. The chancellor said as many as 18,000 pubs across the UK could benefit in new cuts aimed at supporting pubs in local communities. The tax relief comes following calls for the burden of business rates to be reduced on [...]
Government gives parliament say over future Covid restrictions September 30, 2020 The government has agreed to give parliament a level of oversight over future Covid restrictions that affect the whole country in a bid to quell a rebellion from backbench Tories. Health secretary Matt Hancock said the government would “consult parliament” before announcing future England or UK-wide Covid restrictions and would “wherever possible…hold votes before such [...]
People must have the confidence to return to work, says PM August 6, 2020 An economic recovery will require people to have the confidence to get back to the office, the Prime Minister has said in his latest attempt to push the UK to return to work. During a visit to a housing development in Warrington this afternoon, Boris Johnson told reporters there were “real signs of strength in [...]
Government looks to quell Tory rebellion over Covid restrictions September 28, 2020 The government is looking at ways at stopping a Tory backbench revolt over the implementation of new Covid restrictions, according to health secretary Matt Hancock. Hancock said he would meet with the revolt’s leader Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 committee of backbench Tories, while also announcing that indoor mixing between households is now [...]
Scottish government does U-turn on coronavirus business grant scheme April 15, 2020 The Scottish government has changed its coronavirus business grant scheme to make it more generous for hospitality, retail and tourism chains after mounting criticism from the private sector. SNP finance minister Kate Forbes unveiled £220m of new grants today in a bid to close the gap between relief available for Scottish and English businesses. English [...]