What could it mean if England’s June 21 reopening is delayed?
Matt Hancock says the Government is absolutely open to delaying lockdown easing, but No 10 says data this week will be crucial
9 June 2021 • 11:30am
Rising numbers of coronavirus cases and the emergence of the new, more transmissible variant first identified in India have put the final stage of England s lockdown easing in jeopardy.
It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak was willing to accept a short delay to Step 4 of the road map to ending the lockdown amid a rise in cases as of June 9,
The Telegraph understands.
A Whitehall source pointed towards the Treasury having gone long on emergency coronavirus support packages in the Budget to cover the possibility of a delay to the plans.
The UK Tourism Alliance has announced the results of a nationwide employment survey. And as the country comes out of lockdown hospitality and tourism bosses across the country, including Brighton, are reporting significant issues in the recruitment and retention of staff. According to the Tourism Alliance research, based on 500 national employers of all sizes, 46 per cent of businesses have fewer staff than they did pre-Covid, with only 18 per cent reporting that they have all the staff they need. This is even though 30 per cent of businesses have reduced trading capacity, services or hours because of the shortage of staff. Many businesses are needing to offer higher wages to gain new employees and keep their current ones.
Entrepreneur Giles Fuchs owns 70% stake in Burgh Island Hotel in South Devon
Says reopening has been hit by staff finding jobs elsewhere while on furlough
Fuchs, 56, has spent the last two weekends in the kitchen to help ease pressure
Exodus of foreign workers going back to home countries during the pandemic has put pressure on UK hospitality industry