White house press release

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

A Windrush campaigner has pleaded with people from black and Asian communities to get the Covid vaccine after being sent questions from sceptics when he got the jab himself. Patrick Vernon filmed himself after being vaccinated as part of his crusade for more black and Asian people to get the jab with shocking figures showing the uptake is low among some communities. The clip had a broadly positive impact, but some asked Patrick if he was all right while others even jokingly wondered if he had "grown a tail". Data released last month shows 14.4% of white people in England have been vaccinated, compared with 9.2% of Asian people, 6.8% of black people and 4.7% from mixed ethnic groups. Patrick, a former NHS director, shared a video of himself after being jabbed and has had a positive reaction from people saying they have since been vaccinated. But the 59-year-old, who is currently an NHS non-executive, said more needs to be done by the Government to encourage ethnic minority … [Read more...] about Windrush campaigner dispels Covid vaccine myths in plea to black and Asian communities

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'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

LEWIS HAMILTON says he still wants to see if he's smiling behind the wheel before deciding his F1 future. Last month, the world champion signed a 10-month deal with Mercedes when it was widely expected that he would sign a multi-year contract. It has raised serious questions over whether he will retire at the end of the current season. The 36-year-old is going in search of an eighth world title that would move him clear of the joint record he currently shares with Michael Schumacher . But he says that whether he wins the title this year - or not - it will not be his sole motivation for staying in the sport for a 16th season. When quizzed about 2022, Hamilton said: "I have decided. I don't want that [championships] to be the deciding factor. "I got into racing because I loved it and that's got to always be at the core of what you do. "If all you're going for is accolades, I feel I could potentially lose my way. Of course it is the ultimate dream but I don't … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton wants to see if he is still smiling behind wheel at end of season before deciding F1 future