Rishi Sunak will give a Downing Street press conference at 5pm today. Instead of providing updates on the battle against coronavirus , the Tory Chancellor will focus on the Budget , which he will unveil in the House of Commons at around 12.30pm. Any Covid-19 updates or questions are set to revolve around the support schemes announced earlier in the day. Going into the Budget , the year-long furlough scheme - currently due to end on April 30 - will continue until June 30. The £20-a-week uplift in Universal Credit is also set to be extended for another six months to the end of October . So far the Chancellor has resisted calls to make the raise permanent, despite warnings from charities that once the rate is reduced again it will take the Britain's unemployment support to its lowest level since 1992. Other announcements expected include support for businesses to help them recover from the pandemic, another freeze in fuel duty, an extension to the stamp duty … [Read more...] about Rishi Sunak to give Downing Street Budget press conference at 5pm today
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Slash beer duty in today’s Budget to save Britain’s pubs, Rishi Sunak urged
RISHI Sunak has been urged to slash beer duty in today's Budget in a bid to save Britain's beloved pubs. The UK currently pays £3.6BILLION in lager duty every year – that's more than Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland and Ireland combined. Meanwhile, almost 12,000 businesses which sell booze have shut their doors for good in a little over a year during the pandemic, new figures show. Alcohol prices usually rise each year in the Budget in line with RPI inflation, which is currently 0.7 per cent, unless the Chancellor freezes or cuts it. Last year, Mr Sunak froze duty on all alcoholic drinks - including beer, wine and spirits. And with the Chancellor promising to throw the hospitality industry a lifeline in today's Budget – the British Beer and Pub Association is demanding beer duty is slashed. They have been backed by dozens of Conservative MPs who last week urged Mr Sunak to cut lager tax to help the struggling sector. Currently, £1 in every £3 spent in a pub goes … [Read more...] about Slash beer duty in today’s Budget to save Britain’s pubs, Rishi Sunak urged
Lewis Hamilton had to ask who AlphaTauri chief was after he claimed F1 drivers should earn no more than £7m a year
LEWIS HAMILTON had to ask who AlphaTauri's chief was after he claimed drivers should earn no more than £7million. Franz Tost originally called for a salary cap back in November before Lewis Hamilton penned a new £40m contract with Mercedes for the 2021 season as he seeks a record-breaking eighth world title. Tost went on record as saying drivers "should be happy to drive these cars”, but Hamilton did not appear on the same page when he was quizzed about the idea at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year. "Who said that?” asked Hamilton after being told about Tost's quotes, to which press conference host Tom Clarkson replied: “Franz Tost.” Hamilton then added: “Who’s that?”, with Clarkson responding: “Team principal of AlphaTauri.” Hamilton, looking a little dumbfounded, then said: “Oh…okay.” But Tost has now revealed he was unphased by the dismissive nature of Hamilton's reaction. "I laughed," he told Gazzetta dello Sport when asked for his response. "I don’t … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton had to ask who AlphaTauri chief was after he claimed F1 drivers should earn no more than £7m a year
Myanmar junta gets in legitimacy row with envoy to UN
The United Nations said on Tuesday that it has received two "contradictory" letters about Myanmar's representative at the assembly as the junta pushed to suspend the envoy over his anti-coup statement. The move comes as domestic and international tensions rise over the military coup that ousted Myanmar's elected leadership on February 1. "We are in a very unique situation we have not seen in a long time," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "We are trying to sort through all the legal, protocol and other implications." The Aung San Suu Kyi-appointed Kyaw Moe Tun had pleaded with the UN to take "the strongest possible action from the international community" to defend democracy in his country. Watch video 02:19 Share Pressure mounts on Myanmar military Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3q7nd Pressure mounts on Myanmar … [Read more...] about Myanmar junta gets in legitimacy row with envoy to UN
Boost for Spanish holidays as country plans ‘green corridors’ for UK travel if vaccine passports don’t go ahead
SPAIN is looking at introducing UK travel corridors again this summer for Brits if the vaccine passport scheme doesn't go ahead. Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés said if the immunisation certificate does not succeed, Spain is willing to consider bilateral agreements and corridors "with third countries", according to the Spanish press. This would include the UK. He explained: "The way to allow travel in Europe must be decided at the level of the European Union but if those decisions cannot be taken, we will think of other solutions such as corridors, green corridors with third countries that can help us to restart tourist flows." He said that the vaccination rollout in the UK meant that the summer is looking likely for Brits to return . Bookings to Spanish hotspots are already soaring following Boris Johnson's announcement of his roadmap to freedom which could see life return to normal by June 21. Mr. Valdés said decisions on allowing travel must … [Read more...] about Boost for Spanish holidays as country plans ‘green corridors’ for UK travel if vaccine passports don’t go ahead