Paul Johnson, director of Institute for Fiscal Studies, warned of the future
He said economy will be smaller in 5 years than it would ve been without Covid
This means there will be less tax revenue and the same level of spending
The leading economist predicts the public will demand more spending on health, education and social care after experiencing the pandemic
Ministers and scientists suggesting significant lockdown easing after top nine category groups given jabs
Claims Rishi Sunak is among Tories concerned about goalposts shifting on when lockdown can be eased
Pressure on the NHS was the main issue but questions over whether cases and variants now considered
England s chief medical officer Chris Whitty yesterday said the country was past the peak of second wave
Cases and deaths continued to fall as Britain recorded another 19,202 infections and 1,322 fatalities
Don t replace benefit top-up with lump sum, says Therese Coffey
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The work and pensions secretary has advised against replacing a £20 weekly benefits increase with a one-off payment.
The universal credit top-up, introduced as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic, is due to end in April.
Therese Coffey said replacing it with a lump-sum payment is among options being discussed by ministers.
But she said this was not her department s preferred approach and could be complex to deliver.
She added that one-off payments could also carry a fraud risk, whilst is was also unclear how long the economic downturn caused by the pandemic would last.
UK to split from EU rules and unveil post-Brexit state aid regime
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is expected to outline the new state aid regime (Getty Images)
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will today outline the UK’s post-Brexit rules on government subsidies in a major break with the EU.
A statement from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) department said the new set of rules, which supersede the EU’s state aid regime, will mean “local authorities, public bodies and the devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast will be empowered to decide if they can issue taxpayer subsidies by following a set of UK-wide principles”.
Heralding the achievement in a Downing St press conference, the Prime Minister thanked everyone involved
Despite UK s inoculation drive being success, trend has emerged showing a sharp drop-off in Sunday uptake
Last Sunday 46% fewer jabs administered compared to the day before and fortnight ago figure halved in a day
Mr Hancock suggested supplies arrive in one large batch at start of week and dry up by time Sunday comes