Boris Johnson

Rishi Sunak to become next PM

Rishi Sunak is set to become the next leader of the Conservative party and the UK prime minister after becoming the sole candidate to surpass the threshold of 100 votes. Penny Mordaunt announced she was withdrawing from the race only minutes before the nominations deadline at 14:00 BST today (24…

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Shop owners to be forced to rent out empty premises

Shop owners in England could be forced to let out premises that have been vacant for over a year, under new plans from the government. The plans are set to be unveiled as part of the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, expected to be unveiled in the Queen’s speech on…

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Vet’s Kitchen launches dog anxiety guidance ‘roadmap’

Vet’s Kitchen has launched a new “roadmap” to help pets adjust to life after Covid and help avoid the problems of separation anxiety. The five-point plan, with a “nod” to Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, is set to help owners make sure their pets are reintroduced to the world…

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Chancellor to unveil £5bn high-street support package

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to offer over 700,000 retail, hospitality and other businesses grants of up to £18,000 as part of a £5bn rescue package to be included in his Budget speech on Wednesday (3 March). The new ‘Restart Grants’ will be directly distributed from local authorities from April…

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PM outlines ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown

Prime minister Boris Johnson has set out his four-step “roadmap” to guide the nation out of lockdown “cautiously but irreversibly”, calling the plan a “one-way road to freedom”.  Step one will begin from 8 March, when all schools will be allowed to open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed.…

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BIRA calls on government for ‘clear exit plan’ out of lockdown

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) is calling for the UK government to make a clear exit plan out of lockdown for the sector, with Andrew Goodacre CEO of the group stating that “retail continues to be and always has been a safe place”.  The plea comes one week ahead…

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PM outlines Covid Winter Plan

Boris Johnson has unveiled his ‘Covid Winter Plan’ in the House of Commons this afternoon, whilst outlining England’s return to a three tier system. He confirmed that national restrictions in England will end on 2 December and will “not be renewed”. This will mean that non-essential retail, gyms and the…

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Manchester moved into Tier three

Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that Manchester will be placed into Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions, after talks between mayor Andy Burnham and the UK government collapsed.  As a result of being placed under Tier 3, pubs and restaurants must close unless they are supplying substantial meals and outside household…

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PM unveils three-tiered lockdown system

Prime minister Boris Johnson this afternoon announced a new three-tier lockdown system that will see some hospitality businesses in the North-West forced to close from Wednesday. Under the new system, different rules for regions will be classified as being on ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ alert depending on the rate…

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Road closures are ‘accelerating the decline of the high street’, says Bira

Local authorities across the UK are “accelerating the decline of the high street” with “unnecessary” road closures, according to Bira. The group said it has been “inundated” with calls from concerned businesses that post-lockdown accessibility issues are “significantly impacting trade”. Bira said it is now working hard to help address…

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