Government failings to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in February “may have cost thousands of lives”, according to an explosive report in today’s Sunday Times. The paper states Boris Johnson “skipped five Cobra meetings on the virus” while the government ignored scientists’ warnings and early calls for protective equipment, instead sending PPE from the UK depleting […]
Continue Reading
The NHS medical director has made a very public and impassioned plea for frontline workers to be given protective equipment, amid reports NHS staff are considering refusing to work without adequate PPE as stocks dwindle. Prof Stephen Powis warned the government, during today’s (April 18) Downing Street coronavirus daily briefing, that sufficient PPE must be […]
Continue Reading
Hundreds of migrant workers from Eastern Europe are being flown to the UK to pick and sort farm produce that would otherwise rot in the fields. The first of several planes carrying foreign farm food pickers landed at an empty Stansted airport, north of London, yesterday (April 16). Around 180 Romanian workers – wearing protective […]
Continue Reading
London’s stock market has plummeted amidst fears of a global recession caused by the coronavirus with £124 billion wiped off the value of the FTSE 100 blue-chip index. The FTSE 100 closed 7.69% down on Monday – the fifth biggest single day fall in the index’s 36 year history and its worst drop since the […]
Continue Reading
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has promised the NHS will get “whatever resources it needs” to combat the coronavirus outbreak, as the number of positive cases in the UK rose by 64 to total 273. Rishi Sunak said the UK’s “strong” economic foundations enabled him to provide extra funding which could include help for individuals […]
Continue Reading
The public has been warned to prepare for “social distancing” as the number of coronavirus cases in the UK jumped to 206 – a 25% increase from the 164 cases recorded yesterday. England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jennie Harries told the BBC the UK is “teetering on the edge” of sustained transmission but remains […]
Continue Reading
On Wednesday, less than two months after the UK government agreed on a rescue deal, Flybe went into administration. A failing business model and the impact of the coronavirus led to the Flybe collapse. Tweeting to customers ‘DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT unless you have arranged a flight with an alternative airline’ Flybe publicised […]
Continue Reading
Brexit will not be delayed by the coronavirus outbreak, a spokesman for the prime minister has confirmed, saying the UK will not ask for an extension to the transition period which expires on December 31, 2020. However, the outbreak could push the UK’s economy to the brink of recession, warned Goldman Sachs as the number […]
Continue Reading
The government’s worst-case scenario sees up to twenty per cent of the workforce staying at home either because they are sick or to self-isolate. But will they get paid? Businesses, employer groups and unions have pointed out that many workers may not be entitled to any sick pay. As a result, Labour has called for […]
Continue Reading
Boris Johnson has said the army is on standby as part of the government’s “battle plan” to fight the coronavirus, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the UK rises to 51. Health secretary Matt Hancock warned the virus poses an “increasingly serious” threat and told MPs it was “becoming more likely that we will […]
Continue Reading