Tory MP Steve Baker says lockdown restrictions should be lifted by May, as by then the vaccine rollout will have reached the nine vulnerable groups. Mr Baker is deputy chair of the Covid Recovery Group, which was founded by a number of Conservative MPs who have opposed the government's latest lockdown measures. Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
A look at the key figures and dates in the world of politics on February 14 as lockdown-sceptic Tories have piled pressure on Boris Johnson, calling on him to commit to a timetable for lifting coronavirus restrictions with a complete end to controls by the end of April.In a letter to the Prime Minister, the leaders of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) said the “tremendous pace” of the vaccination rollout meant restrictions in England should begin easing from early March.They said ministers must produce a cost-benefit analysis to justify any controls that remain in place after that date, with a “road-map” stating when they would be removed.The letter was organised by the CRG chair and deputy chair, Mark Harper and Steve Baker, and was said to have the backing of 63 Conservative MPs in all.
Credit: PA - Press Association STUDIO Duration: 00:47Published
Another 65 new vaccination centres have opened in England today, as nearly two million people in the UK have received their fist jab in the past week.
The new vaccination hubs include a mosque in Birmingham and an Odeon cinema in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England Medical Director, said that supplies of the vaccine “will be variable” as manufacturers are “ramping up the production process”.
Two millions vaccinations a week are required to meet the government’s target of immunising all over 70s, health and care workers and the extremely clinically vulnerable by mid-February. Report by Avagninag. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Responding to today's budget, Laura Tenison MBE, founder of Jojo Maman Bebe, said that while her company would remain innovative, higher corporation tax means companies like hers will have less to reinvest in creating jobs.
Report by Odonovanc. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says the Budget lacked an increased investment for the NHS, social care and other workers who have been at the frontline of the Covid pandemic.
He added it lacked a long-term plan of how the capital and country was going to recover from the crisis. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended his Budget when asked why he has not made provisions for coronavirus related costs beyond 2022. During a Downing Street press conference Mr Sunak was asked if it was his "honest judgement that the pandemic will cost nothing from next year". The Chancellor admitted that he does not know exactly the future path of what is going to happen, adding: "I don't have a crystal ball". However he reassured the public the government is thinking about the next 12 months, and working to improve the UK's preparedness for future pandemics. Report by Thomasl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Stephen Barclay has praised Rishi Sunak's Budget for providing support beyond the Covid roadmap. The government aims to have the economy open by June 21, but the Chancellor's support "goes way beyond that", he said. He added: "He has already taken a cautious approach extending till the end of September to allow for the fact some businesses will come back at different paces." Report by Thomasl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The UK's economic recovery from coronavirus will be "swifter and more sustained" than previously thought, Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs as he set out his Budget.
But he warned it would take "a long time" to rebuild and pledged to do "whatever it takes" to support people.
In his Budget the Chancellor:
- Extended the stamp duty holiday from the end of March until the end of June.
- Confirmed the extension of the furlough scheme until the end of September.
- Extended the 5% reduced rate of VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector to the end of September.
- Continued the business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors until the end of June.
- Announced the temporary ÂŁ20-a-week increase in Universal Credit payments will continue.
- Set out a new Recovery Loan Scheme.
-Froze all alcohol duties and scrapped a planned increase in fuel duty. Report by Avagninag. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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