At least 250,000 small businesses could shut up shop for good this year, according to the Federation of Small Businesses. Confidence is at an all-time low and a record number of businesses revealed plans to close their firms in the coming 12 months, its latest Small Business Index shows. Meanwhile, one in five SMEs reduced … Read more
The Scottish government spent more than £50,000 on preparing civil servants to give evidence about the investigation into former First Minister Alex Salmond, it has emerged. Top officials are reported to have spent hours preparing for the sessions, where they then suffered a ‘collective memory loss’ on key details. This has led to accusations of ‘coaching’ … Read more
Border chaos as Government is forced to DELAY demanding passengers test negative before entering UK until Monday amid backlash from travel industry over type of tests used Government planning to enforce regime requiring tests 72 hours pre-departure Meant to come into force 4am Friday but there will be a weekend grace period Passengers booked on … Read more
Parents will be able to claim food vouchers from next week after an outcry over paltry free school meal parcels forced another Government U-turn. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today announced he would be reintroducing the £15 vouchers from January 18. He told MPs he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ by images shared by angry parents laying bare … Read more
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN BRITAIN’S MASS VACCINATION PLAN? Mass vaccination centres: Some 50 centres will be set up at football stadiums and other huge venues to get the jab to as many Britons as possible; Teachers ‘second in line for jabs’: Key workers on Britain’s frontlines may be bumped up the priority queue meaning they … Read more
Labour today piled more pressure on Boris Johnson to shut down professional football after players flouted Covid-19 rules again and were accused of losing the ‘moral case’ to continue as infections rise and the NHS struggles to cope. Social distancing was abandoned at FA Cup games amid wild celebrations in packed dressing rooms at Chorley … Read more
Premiership rugby will take a two-week ‘circuit-breaker’, with no games for a fortnight, choosing not to fill the gap left by the suspension of the European Cup over Covid fears. Both the Champions and Challenge Cups will now be paused until at least the Spring after the French government banned their teams playing sides from … Read more
Labour today piled more pressure on Boris Johnson to shut down professional football after players flouted Covid-19 rules again and were accused of losing the ‘moral case’ to continue as infections rise and the NHS struggles to cope. Social distancing was abandoned at FA Cup games amid wild celebrations in packed dressing rooms at Chorley … Read more
Government has told the football authorities they have to get tough over breaches of Covid rules as it gets harder and harder to justify a sport associated with images of jubilant players quaffing champagne, while NHS doctors struggle to cope with sick patients. The juxtaposition of footballers ignoring social distancing rules on and off the … Read more
From forcing people to wear masks outside to closing nurseries, the Government has a range of options to toughen England’s third national lockdown. Other possibilities include banning support bubbles, stopping people exercising with another person and closing places of worship again. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi today raised concerns that people were not complying with the … Read more