Trump extends US coronavirus measures beyond Easter March 30, 2020 President Donald Trump has warned US coronavirus restrictions could stay in place until at least 30 April, extending measures such as social distancing. Trump had previously hinted at relaxing US coronavirus rules by Easter, which arrives on 12 April, to revive the economy. The US now counts 140,000 coronavirus cases, while 2,493 people have died, [...]
DEBATE: Should businesses sign a new ‘social contract’ in exchange for government support? March 30, 2020 Should businesses sign a new “social contract” in exchange for government support? YES, says James Kirkup, director of the Social Market Foundation. Taxpayers are offering unprecedented support to business during this crisis, and will be paying for it for years to come. To avoid a backlash that harms business and the UK economy afterwards, we [...]
A more sustainable capitalism will emerge from Covid-19 March 30, 2020 The main concern that is paralysing the financial markets right now is uncertainty. Investors and the business community are questioning how long this crisis will last, and when consumer and investor confidence will return, with no end in sight. But while none of us can predict the future, when it does return, one possible outcome [...]
These are difficult times — but London is strong, and the City will get through this March 30, 2020 If this crisis has shown us anything, it is that the Square Mile really can keep calm and carry on in the face of adversity. In just over a week, the majority of the City’s half a million employees have adapted to working at home remarkably quickly, thanks to technology such as video conferencing, and [...]
China is using the coronavirus crisis to its advantage March 30, 2020 It is easy to lose your bearings while in self-isolation. Trust me, as I’m into the fourth week of quarantine here in Milan, I entirely understand. But baseline realities matter even more in a genuine crisis. One such truism was put best by John Stuart Mill: all it takes for evil to triumph in the [...]
DEBATE: Does the shift in police attitudes threaten British society? March 30, 2020 Does the shift in police attitudes threaten Britain’s free society after this crisis is over? YES, says Matt Kilcoyne, deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute. Our police keep us safe by consent. Overreach by rogue forces risks more than criminalising vast swathes of our society, it risks the very principle of our civilian police [...]
No laughing matter: The impact of coronavirus on London’s standup comics March 30, 2020 One of the benefits of living in a vibrant metropolitan city like London is seeing live entertainment. For many, the highlight of their week — before the coronavirus crisis — was enjoying standup comedians at pubs, open mic nights and comedy clubs across the capital. As well as being a source of entertainment, live comedy [...]
Now introducing the O-Shaped Lawyer March 30, 2020 An old academic’s joke goes: if you have a complete blank on a historical era, just say it saw “a period of social upheaval and the emergence of a new middle class” — which is always true. A parallel truism could be used of professional services: you can always claim that the focus should shift [...]
Retailers urge government to release tax rebates amid coronavirus crisis March 30, 2020 UK retailers have urged the government to approve billions of pounds worth of tax rebates to help cash flow as businesses battle to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic. The British Retail Consortium and rating advisory Altus Group have called on the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to settle outstanding business rates appeals ahead of the new [...]
Airlines ask grounded staff to answer NHS volunteer call March 30, 2020 Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet have written to grounded staff members asking them to help in the NHS’ new Nightingale hospitals in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Easyjet has already contacted all 9,000 of its employees, including 4,000 or so cabin crew staff trained in CPR, whilst Virgin will begin writing to 4,000 of [...]