The top boss of Oxford vaccine maker AstraZeneca says researchers have worked out a ‘winning formula’ to boost the jab’s efficacy. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm, says a two-dose method can push the vaccine’s efficacy rate towards that of rivals Pfizer and Moderna. His comments come as officials reportedly prepare to approve the … Read more
Britain could be free of tight Covid restrictions by the end of February, after Ministers pinpointed the 15 million people who would need vaccinations to end the cycles of crippling lockdowns. With the ‘game-changing’ Oxford jab expected to be approved within days, the Government hopes that enough doses will soon be available to inoculate those … Read more
Chancellor Rishi Sunak quit London 24 hours ahead of capital’s Tier 4 travel ban to spend Christmas in his Richmond constituency Chancellor swapped Downing Street for North Yorkshire last Friday afternoon The next day Boris Johnson introduced Tier 4 with travel ban on the capital On Monday Labour demanded a public statement on economic support By David … Read more
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is faced with pressure to announce a fresh emergency support package for businesses and workers following tough Covid-19 restrictions. Shop owners are fearful of a new crisis on the High Street after London and the south-east was plunged into Tier Four in the run-up to the busy Christmas period. Chief executive of … Read more
Rishi Sunak raised fears coronavirus curbs could drag on longer as he dramatically extended the furlough scheme for another month. The Chancellor said the huge bailout will now continue until the end of April to give businesses ‘certainty’, while firms will be able to access emergency loans until the end of March. He also confirmed … Read more
Rishi Sunak today raised fears coronavirus curbs could drag on longer as he dramatically extended the furlough scheme for another month. The Chancellor said the huge coronavirus bailout will now continue until the end of April to give businesses ‘certainty’, while firms will be able to access loans until the end of March. He also … Read more
Rishi Sunak rejects plea by Sadiq Khan to bail out London’s hospitality industry after it was plunged into Tier 3 lockdown Sadiq Khan demanded extra support for pubs and restaurants amid job loss fear The Treasury said Mr Sunak had already announced support for hospitality firms Theatre bosses said new rules, forcing them to close venues, … Read more
Price hike fears for Uber and Airbnb customers amid reports Rishi Sunak is planning to impose VAT in a multi-billion-pound tax raid Sunak considering toughening up VAT rules on ‘sharing economy’ businesses Many have grown rapidly in recent years to become hugely successful Treasury is examining ways it could levy VAT on these transactions By Matt … Read more
Rishi Sunak is unlikely to announce an emergency Budget for a No Deal Brexit because Treasury believes robust Covid financial support will soften financial blow Sunak not planning emergency Budget despite threat to farmers of WTO tarriffs Previous Chancellors Javid and Hammond drew up emergency plans for No Deal Coronavirus financial support measures are in … Read more
In a boost to Rishi Sunak‘s ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ drive, Conservative ex-Cabinet Ministers Amber Rudd and Nicky Morgan have amassed six new jobs between them alone. In Rudd’s case, she has a balanced portfolio, nicely split between work linked to her time as Home Secretary and her earlier stint as Secretary of State for Energy … Read more