Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson insists he is ‘not at war with North’

Rishi’s new bailout  Firms in Tier 2 lockdown eligible for £2,100-a-month grants, potentially benefiting 150,000 businesses. If there is full take-up it could cost £1.2billion. Job Support Scheme changed so employers pay just 5 per cent of unworked hours – down from a third – and the minimum threshold for hours worked will be one day … Read more

Pub and restaurant bosses welcome Rishi Sunak’s ‘new furlough scheme’

Pub and restaurant bosses today welcomed Rishi Sunak’s ‘new furlough scheme’ to help those in the hospitality sector – as others warned it will still be a tough winter for many.  The Chancellor has unveiled another bailout worth billions of pounds in a bid to boost support for stricken businesses under Tier Two lockdown and … Read more

Rishi Sunak turns on the spending taps AGAIN

Rishi Sunak today unveiled yet another bailout with billions of pounds for stricken bars and restaurants under Tier Two lockdown and the self-employed. In a dramatic Commons statement, the Chancellor boosted support for sectors like hospitality after a wave of anger at ‘loopholes’ in his existing provision. He said it was clear ‘open but struggling businesses … Read more

Rishi Sunak unveils ANOTHER coronavirus bailout for Tier 2 areas

Rishi Sunak will today unveil yet another bailout amid warnings that thousands of bars and restaurants in Tier Two lockdown areas face going bust. In a dramatic Commons statement this morning, the Chancellor is expected to boost support for sectors like hospitality by hundreds of millions of pounds, after a wave of anger at ‘loopholes’ in … Read more

Rishi Sunak’s old boss at Goldman Sachs ‘is in the running’ to become £160,000-a-year BBC chairman

Rishi Sunak’s old boss at Goldman Sachs ‘is in the running’ to become £160,000-a-year BBC chairman Richard Sharp believed to be applying for the prestigious role at the corporation The multi-millionaire Tory donor worked with the Chancellor at banking giant It comes as George Osborne has pulled out of the race for the high-profile role  … Read more

Rishi Sunak’s new lockdown millions: Chancellor prepares rescue deal for companies

Rishi Sunak will today launch a new rescue package to help firms hit by Covid restrictions retain their staff. The Chancellor will update MPs this morning on a package of support set to cost hundreds of millions of pounds to help firms in sectors such as hospitality, which have been badly hit by new restrictions … Read more

Rishi Sunak is working on package to help companies stuck in Tier Two lockdown, says Treasury staff 

Rishi Sunak is working on package to help companies stuck in Tier Two coronavirus lockdown, says Treasury staff The Chancellor is considering ‘range of measures’ to help restricted businesses Rishi Sunak underlined the economic damage caused by Covid-19 restrictions Finance officials have predicted the GDP will be 3 per cent smaller in long term  By … Read more

Mayor Andy Burnham blames Chancellor Rishi Sunak for being ‘the problem’ in Tier 3 lockdown row

A growing feud between Andy Burnham and top ministers is set to intensify after the Labour mayor labelled Rishi Sunak ‘the problem’  in a row over tighter coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester. The mayor of Greater Manchester, who has called for more financial support for the area after it was plunged into a Tier 3 lockdown, … Read more

Government worry over Andy Burnham’s soapbox moment

Burnham’s enjoying a ‘soapbox moment’: Manchester Mayor accused of attention seeking as Treasury warns Boris not to write blank cheque Chancellor Rishi Sunak was warned the PM about caving in to Andy Burnham The Manchester mayor wishes to secure additional funding for his region  Downing Street sources are worried about what may happen in this … Read more

Chancellor Rishi Sunak warns circuit-breaker lockdown could cost jobs and close businesses

Rishi Sunak has warned a ‘blunt’ circuit-breaker national lockdown could cause ‘permanent damage,’ to UK jobs and firms.  There are growing calls, particularly from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, for a two-week circuit breaker to be implemented as a means of slowing the Covid-19 infection rate. Manchester and Lancashire could well join Liverpool under Tier … Read more