UK first-time homebuyers need £59k deposit – up £12k on a year ago – study finds

First-time buyers need average deposit of nearly £59,000, which is £12,000 more than a year ago, study finds First time buyers need £12,000 more for a deposit than this time last year Halifax study found deposit requirement increased in every region of the UK Wales was found to have most significant increase with average amount increasing … Read more

Oxford Street £150m revamp begins to boost post-lockdown recovery

Oxford Street revamp begins: Workmen widen pavements on London’s busiest shopping street during first stage of £150m overhaul to boost post-lockdown recovery Westminster council has ambitious plans to revamp Oxford Street in time for the reopening of the retail sector The £150m regeneration features an 80ft artificial mound on Marble Arch for tourists to enjoy sweeping … Read more

Oxford Street £150m revamp begins to boost post-lockdown recovery

Oxford Street revamp begins: Workmen widen pavements on London’s busiest shopping street during first stage of £150m overhaul to boost post-lockdown recovery Westminster council has ambitious plans to revamp Oxford Street in time for the reopening of the retail sector The £150m regeneration features an 80ft artificial mound on Marble Arch for tourists to enjoy sweeping … Read more

UK economy due ‘rapid-fire recovery’ as Covid restrictions ease, says B of E chief economist

UK economy is a ‘crouching-tiger’ on course for a ‘rapid-fire recovery’ after lockdown restrictions ease, Bank of England chief economist says as officials raise growth forecasts Andy Haldane, a famous optimist, delivered his upbeat verdict at a talk today Came as central bank forecasts suggested growth will pick up amid reopening Previously blasted doom-mongers, for … Read more

NHS pay: Tories could rue Lord Bethell’s sneers on nurses’ pay, says Andrew Pierce 

Labour’s pledge to put No 10’s planned 1 per cent pay rise for nurses at the heart of its local election campaign could mean that one well-heeled minister’s nonchalant dismissal of the nurses’ case will come back to haunt the Government. ‘There are many people in this country who look upon professional jobs in the … Read more

Covid lockdown England: Tory MPs urge Boris Johnson not to ‘move goalposts’

Ministers were yesterday accused of ‘moving the goalposts’ and creating uncertainty in plans to lift the lockdown. They were urged by MPs to stick to Boris Johnson’s ‘data not dates’ pledge and publish target figures for when restrictions could be eased. It came as business leaders warned more than 3,500 pubs, bars and restaurants face … Read more

Rishi Sunak hopes £180bn consumer boom will aid UK’s post-Covid economic recovery

Rishi Sunak today stoked hopes a £180billion consumer boom will fuel the UK’s recovery – but admitted that fears of mass unemployment ‘keep me up at night’.  The Chancelllor voiced optimism that a fast bounceback will fueled by the huge savings warchest built up by those who have kept working through the pandemic. But he … Read more

Michael Gove: Post-Brexit border checks on imports to be delayed due to Covid disruption

Michael Gove announces Britain will delay the introduction of post-Brexit checks on some goods from the EU for six months due to Covid chaos Michael Gove said introduction of controls on some EU imports will be delayed Minister for the Cabinet Office said delay has been caused by Covid disruption The border controls were due … Read more

Boris Johnson hints on 1% NHS pay rise U-turn and says nurses could be treated ‘exceptionally’

Boris Johnson hints at U-turn on 1% NHS pay rise saying nurses could be treated ‘exceptionally’ as Keir Starmer berates him at PMQs swiping that Dominic Cummings got 40% Boris Johnson berated by Keir Starmer over NHS pay at a bruising PMQs session Labour leader complained at ‘real terms cut’ after the coronavirus pandemic Mr … Read more

Furious health unions line up to slam Matt Hancock over ‘slap in the face’ 1% pay rise for medics

Furious health unions have slammed Matt Hancock over the one per cent pay rise for medics. The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing and Unison wrote an open letter to Rishi Sunak calling for a ‘fair pay deal’. They said NHS workers ‘have literally kept the country alive for … Read more