RETAIL DEAL BY ASOS BUT 2200 JOBS COULD BE AT RISK
The SUN reports that ASOS has bought Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge in a deal that will shut 70 shops forever and put 2,200 jobs at risk. The takeover, which is worth £295million and also includes HIIT, was confirmed in an announcement on the London Stock Exchange today but the deal doesn’t include the physical shops, and only 300 of the 2,500 staff that work across the ranges will move over to ASOS.
NICOLA STURGEON COULD BE OUSTED SAY BOOKIES
From the Express: Bookies have slashed the odds on Nicole Sturgeon being ousted as Scottish First Minister by the end of the year. The SNP leader has come under fire for her handling of the coronavirus vaccination programme in Scotland amid allegations she has become too focussed on securing a second independence referendum after local elections in May. She was also heavily criticised for appearing to side with the EU over the vaccines row by threatening to publish commercially sensitive data about the amount of doses being shipped into the UK. Ladbrokes spokesman Alex Apati said the odds on her remaining in office for the rest of 2021 had now been cut. Odds were at 9/4 but bookies have since trimmed odds to just 2/1 on Sturgeon being replaced before the year is out.
EXPAT PENSIONERS LEAVE THE EU
The Express reports: Expat pensioners are coming back from the EU. It has been suggested the trend is a consequence of losing certain citizenship rights and having to apply for an EU visa because of Brexit. This is a stark reversal of the years of outward migration that preceded Brexit. More than 10,000 British pensioners have left the bloc since the Brexit referendum in 2016. There are now 463,774 British expatriates still living in the EU.
UK COMPANIES COULD SWITCH OPERATIONS TO EUROPE
The Guardian reports: Hundreds of UK companies could switch operations to countries inside the EU in what is threatening to become a dramatic exodus of investment and jobs caused by Brexit. The Observer can reveal that by 1 January this year some 500 businesses – mostly UK-owned, or UK-based with overseas owners – were already making inquiries about setting up branches, depots or warehouses in the Netherlands alone, for “Brexit-related reasons”. Since then the number of inquiries from UK companies has increased further. If companies switch all or parts of their operations to Europe it will mean the loss of jobs, economic activity and tax revenue at home.
NO CORONAVIRUS JAB QUEUE JUMPING FOR TEACHERS
The SUN reports that according to the Trade Secretary Liz Truss vulnerable Brits could die if teachers jump the coronavirus vaccine queue, cabinet minister Liz Truss has warned as calls grow for teachers to be vaccinated before schools return.The Trade Secretary rejected calls to give teachers the jab during the February half-term in order to speed up the reopening of schools.
CONFUSING ADVICE FOR SUMMER HOLIDAY PLANS
From the Daily Mail: Confusing advice from Health Secretary Matt Hancock raised the hopes of millions of Britons as he said that he expected a ‘Great British summer’ powered by the success of the vaccine rollout. But less than half an hour after his local BBC interview, Trade Secretary Liz Truss said it was dangerous for ministers to go on television making promises about people’s summer holidays and Public Health England’s Dr Susan Hopkins warned that relaxing lockdown measures would have to be done ‘very slowly, very cautiously’ to avoid a surge in infections.
NHS STAFF DENIED CHANCE TO DECOMPRESS
The Guardian reports that the chief executive of NHS Providers in England has stated that the NHS will take months to return to normal service after the Covid Crisis is finally over, because its workforce is exhausted and traumatised. Hundreds of staff members are being denied the chance to decompress after working intensely and seeing huge numbers of patients dying during the brutal second wave, and as a result “very large numbers” will go on long-term sick leave or leave their jobs. MPs or patients should neither expect nor pressurise the NHS to immediately resume speedy diagnostic and treatment services because that is not possible. Cancelled surgeries, thousands of which have been repeatedly postponed since March 2020 for ailments such as cancer, will also take time to return to normal. Almost 4.5 million people in England are waiting for hospital care – the highest number on record – and in theory should be treated within 18 weeks. But the widespread disruption to non-Covid care wreaked by the pandemic means waiting times have plummeted and the number of people forced to wait more than a year for sometimes urgent care has soared from 1,398 to 192,169 in just a year.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN FOR FRIGHTENED PUBLIC
The Sunday Times reports that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have agreed an “endemic recovery plan” to put Britain back on its feet after the immediate coronavirus crisis, as a poll reveals today that the public feels more frightened than at any time before. A year after the first case of the coronavirus in Britain, 56 per cent of voters feel “personally threatened” by Covid, with women and the over-55s worst affected. In an attempt to show that Johnson — who has been accused of moving too slowly on the health response — is ahead of the game in planning the economic recovery, the chancellor will use the budget on March 3 to provide a long-term blueprint that is likely to mean high state spending for a decade.
TAX RISES BEING CONSIDERED
The Telegraph writes that Rishi Sunak is once again considering an increase in capital gains tax to bring it into line with the higher levels of income tax rates, in a blow to savers and entrepreneurs. Capital gains tax is paid on shares and company assets from 20 per cent to as much as 45 per cent. He is also looking at taking corporation tax from 19 to as much as 24 per cent. The 2019 Conservative Party manifesto committed to no increases in VAT, inheritance tax and National Insurance but left the way open for rises in capital gains tax and corporation tax. Income tax increases in bands, from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, and 45 per cent for the highest earners.
THE COST OF LOST SCHOOLING
The Daily Mail writes: A Think Tank reported that the cost of lost schooling to a generation of children is today put at a shocking £350billion. The impact on pupils missing classes during the pandemic could last a lifetime, a hard-hitting report warns. Children who have been denied six months of normal education could lose an average of £40,000 in income over their career, predicts the Institute for Fiscal Studies.The think-tank calls for ministers to consider ‘big and radical’ measures to help youngsters catch up. These could include extending the educational year, lengthening the school day, summer catch-ups and even ‘mass repetition of whole school years’.
A REMINDER FOR CAR OWNERS
The Express carries the reminder that the final MOT test extensions ended on 31st January. The DVSA has warned many drivers could still be caught out with many certificates due to expire. Driving without a valid MOT could see road users fined up to £1000.
AND FINALLY
From The Times: One in five cats have put on weight during the pandemic as owners spoil them with treats while stuck at home. Many are 50 per cent heavier than a year ago, research by the Cats Protection charity suggests. Cats have typically gained 2lb-5lb, leaving them at risk of diabetes, joint problems and urinary infections. A pet cat usually weighs 9-11lb. More than one in four owners admit overfeeding cats since March, with about a third also allowing them to visit neighbours for seconds, according to the charity’s survey of 2,000 people. Maggie Roberts, director of veterinary services for Cats Protection, said owners were being manipulated into “over-indulging” their animals. “What we’ve got to remember is that cats are quite clever animals, so they learn quite quickly how to manipulate their owners,” she said. “They know that if they sit there and miaow pathetically, they may get a response.” More than three million UK cats were obese even before the pandemic.
So it may take the NHS many months to get back to “normal”! If what we had was classed as normal (3 years and waiting for what was classed as “urgent” a year ago) I hope not. There again this is Wales!!!
Tax rises – gales of Laffer!
UK companies could switch operations to europe. I don’t think so.
With foreign agents controlling our youropeein manufacturing it should make a good boost for, to paraphrase Pres Trump – Britain First. Especially true for core items such as printing currency and passports, weapons manufacture including airplanes and on and on. Manufacture (dirty word) these items and a lot more, here in GB. Governments have tried to run this country for the stock exchange and flipping burgers for long enough.
Wee Willie Crankie aka Nicola Sturgeon on her way out. If only.
Apart from her beloved common market debacle, independence knock backs and now vaccinations, let’s not forget her handling of the Alex Salmond affair(s).
Its all the fault of the English Parliament – yeah right.
The Guardian. ‘Decompress’ ?? What the hell is that supposed to mean? They also have some sort of misprint, saying waiting times have plummeted!
So I hope the Guardian are also wrong about U.K. firms moving to E.U. Also hope that the Telegraph are wrong about Capital Gains tax and Corporation Tax.
The Media are STILL stoking Brexit FEAR it seems.