Masks should be compulsory in shops, restaurants and pubs, says BMA

Compulsory face-covering measures should be introduced to ‘all areas’ where social distancing is not possible, the British Medical Association said today. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced last night that wearing a covering will be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15 – meaning commuters would be fined £80 for not wearing one. However, … Read more

Face coverings will be COMPULSORY on public transport in England from June 15

Face coverings are to be made compulsory on public transport from June 15 to help quell coronavirus, Grant Shapps announced tonight. The Transport Secretary unveiled the news at the Downing Street briefing this evening, saying makeshift masks can play a part in reducing the spread.  Mr Shapps said the ‘challenges’ for the network were ‘increasing’ … Read more

Ex-MP Norman Baker argues we must hit back against China that has contempt for our way of life

In my dealings with China over many years, I have learnt one hard fact: they do not play by the same rules as other countries. They play dirty.  When I went to Beijing as Transport Minister, I was warned by the Foreign Office not to take my phone or my laptop as it was assumed … Read more

Seven former Tory ministers join group of MPs urging the PM to rethink travel quarantine plan

MPs’ quarantine rebellion: Team of Tory politicians including seven former ministers are urging the Government to scrap plan to order all arrivals into UK to self-isolate for 14 days New border regime will force travellers to self-isolate for two weeks on arrival   Group of 40 MPs revolted against the plans and called for PM to … Read more

Grant Shapps reveals personal journey planner to help rail passengers

Grant Shapps’ app: Transport minister reveals personal journey planner to help rail passengers socially distance during coronavirus outbreak by avoiding busy services The National Rail service aims to help commuters avoid over-crowded trains  It will stagger journey times and give disruption or over-crowding warnings  Government pledged to pump £283million to roads, railways, buses and trams … Read more

Government pumps £283m into public transport and provides £50 bike repair vouchers for cyclists

Roads, railways, buses and trams are to receive a £283 million funding boost and half a million bike repair vouchers will be made available as part of plans to get Britain moving again during the coronavirus crisis. The Transport Secretary said today the cash injection, divided into £254m for buses and £29m for trams and … Read more

Cyprus will ban British tourists from entering the country when it reopens to holidaymakers in June

Cyprus will ban British tourists from entering the country when it reopens to holidaymakers on June 9 amid fears over UK’s coronavirus death toll Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said airports would reopen on June 9 Phased reopening will initially allow passengers to fly from about 20 countries British tourists account for a third of arrivals … Read more

Greece will allow international flights into the country from July 1

Greece will allow international flights to return to its tourist destinations from July 1, the country’s prime minister said today in a boost to British families hoping for a summer holiday despite the coronavirus pandemic.  The Mediterranean nation is planning to reboot its tourist industry from June 15 when hotels will start to re-open, before … Read more

European countries warn they will not open to British holidaymakers if UK imposes 14-day quarantine

European nations have offered to open their borders to British holidaymakers this summer – but only if the UK drops its 14-day coronavirus quarantine. Popular tourist destinations like Spain, Italy and Greece have said that they would be willing to allow UK visitors in to help their under-threat tourism industries. But they insisted that any … Read more

Bad news for summer holidays: UK DROPS ‘air bridges’ plan for Brits to holiday in low-risk countries

Families’ hopes of a summer getaway were dealt a blow last night as Downing Street played down the idea of opening ‘air bridges’ to some foreign resorts. The prospect of quarantine-free travel between the UK and countries with low coronavirus rates had been raised by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. But with ministers expected to unveil … Read more