Raise sick pay and extend furlough, Royal Society urges government August 14, 2020 Statutory sick pay should be increased and the furlough scheme extended, according to a new report by the Royal Society. The research has suggested it would be the best trade-off between public health and economic risk moving forward. It argues that health and economic data should be combined to produce the best economic outcome at [...]
Sadiq Khan admits empty offices are a ‘big problem for central London’ August 13, 2020 Sadiq Khan has warned for the first time that empty offices in central London are causing a “big problem” for the economy. The mayor of London admitted that small businesses were struggling with the dramatically reduced footfall as huge numbers of people continue to work from home. He urged big firms to reconsider decisions to [...]
UK job vacancies see biggest weekly rise in 2020 August 13, 2020 The number of online job adverts has risen according to new data, despite an increasing number of people being made redundant across the UK. The total volume of online job adverts saw its biggest weekly increase in 2020 between 31 July and 7 August, data from the Office of National Statistics has revealed. Job adverts [...]
Sadiq Khan pleads with PM to save struggling West End August 13, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called on Boris Johnson to rescue London’s West End as central London businesses struggle to rebound from the coronavirus crisis. Khan wrote to the Prime Minister today, after lobby group The New West End Company predicted that there would be a £5bn drop in retail sales for the district this year. The West [...]
Brits optimistic about returning to work despite safety concerns August 13, 2020 British workers are largely optimistic about returning to the office, though concerns remain over whether employers will put the right safety measures in place. Just under half of UK employees said they felt positive about going back to work, while less than one in five said they felt negative, according to a new survey. The [...]
More than one third of A-level results downgraded as Gavin Williamson comes under fire August 13, 2020 Around 35 per cent of A-level results have been downgraded by one grade, figures have revealed. The students affected will receive a lower grade than their teachers predicted due to the Joint Council for Qualifications standardising the results based on historical data. Despite this, exam watchdog Ofqual has said performance across the country has been [...]
London swelters in longest stretch of hot weather in almost 60 years August 12, 2020 Central London has now recorded its longest stretch of high temperatures since the 1960s, as the capital enters its sixth day of hot weather. Temperatures in London today surpassed 34 degrees for the sixth day in a row — the first time it has done that since 1961, the Met Office said. It comes as [...]
The City is the best regulated financial centre in the world — it must shun those calling for a bonfire of regulation August 11, 2020 As we approach the end of the Brexit transition period, the siren voices advocating for a bonfire of the current regulatory system grow louder. Their argument is that regulation is costly, stifles innovation, and holds back our banks and financial institutions. They look at other jurisdictions, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in [...]
The future of urban transport is human-powered August 11, 2020 In recent months there has been precious little to celebrate as the pandemic has taken away so much and pushed us apart into isolation. Much of the rapid change we have had forced upon us has been negative. But there’s one change that we can choose to make that will benefit all and create the [...]