We have much to be grateful for in the UK. As I file my copy over 3.8 million injections have been administered, and the target that we will reach 15million vaccinated by mid-February, is well on course.
Although depressingly high, the number of cases fell by more than a third last week, suggesting that the latest lockdown measures are working.
More large and small scale vaccination centres are opening this week, including High Street pharmacies.
There is also good news for small businesses as insurance companies are now required to pay out to businesses forced to close last March. Many had hoped their ‘interruption insurance policies’ – designed to cover losses in the event they had to suspend operations – would help ends meet. Yet, many insurers refused to pay, claiming their policies were not designed to cover nationwide pandemics.
It is hard to understand the trend to buy expensive pre-packed ‘prepared vegetables’. A recent article by John Humphreys suggests that prior to lockdown, shoppers were buying for convenience as they were ‘money rich and time poor’. Now he concludes that with more time on our hands we are ‘time-rich and money poor’, therefore doing things we didn’t do before. Including cleaning, scraping and chopping vegetables.
This is good news for farmers and growers resulting in less waste and lower energy and labour costs. Also it cuts out the middle man, as well as being better for the environment as less plastic packaging is required.
It is encouraging to hear that Rishi Sunak is being tasked by Boris to exploit the advantages and opportunities of Brexit by turning the UK into the ‘Singapore of Europe’.
The Chancellor’s new body, called the Better Regulation Committee, will focus in particular on the PM’s big ticket infrastructure projects, dubbed ‘Boris’s bridges and buses’. These, to date, have been hampered by European rules, along with cutting edge science and technology projects, and greater help for struggling small businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
Singapore’s low-tax, low-regulation economy, would be welcomed in particular by the financial services industry. Also the programme of regulatory reform will push the boundaries, boost creative thinking and inject pace at the heart of government.
Hopefully Priti Patel will now clamp down heavily on criminals and drug dealers – Singapore style. And, introduce their form of National Service which is well overdue in the UK.
Encouragingly No 10 is breaking through the gloom of the Covid pandemic by presenting an upbeat vision of the UK’s prospects, now free from Brussels’ stranglehold.
More good news for farmers, landowners and rural communities as travellers who set up unauthorised camps on private land face a crackdown. Under a new law, part of the criminal justice bill, intentional trespass will become a criminal offence.
This enables the police to seize vehicles and arrest travellers who will face a three month prison sentence or £2,500 fine, or both, if they refuse to move at the landowner’s request.
I have on numerous occasions criticised the BBC. However, I have come to the conclusion it is not the organisation which needs reforming but certain over paid staff and presenters who should be sacked, along with several at ITV and LBC.
The BBC makes some very decent programmes, notably the World Service which produces outstanding programmes by excellent presenters.
Those letting down the BBC are individuals who are politically biased, self-opinionated and arrogant. They clearly believe they are superior to the VIPs and experts they interview.
Many panel games, light comedy and game shows also clearly scrape the bottom of the barrel and come up with dregs. Satire is one thing, outright crude insults another.
The British Broadcasting Corporation should present high quality, unbiased news, views, public information and quality entertainment. It is time to stop the smut and derogatory criticism of world leaders, politicians and medical experts.
Although depressingly high, the number of cases fell by more than a third last week, suggesting that the latest lockdown measures are working.
More large and small scale vaccination centres are opening this week, including High Street pharmacies.
There is also good news for small businesses as insurance companies are now required to pay out to businesses forced to close last March. Many had hoped their ‘interruption insurance policies’ – designed to cover losses in the event they had to suspend operations – would help ends meet. Yet, many insurers refused to pay, claiming their policies were not designed to cover nationwide pandemics.
It is hard to understand the trend to buy expensive pre-packed ‘prepared vegetables’. A recent article by John Humphreys suggests that prior to lockdown, shoppers were buying for convenience as they were ‘money rich and time poor’. Now he concludes that with more time on our hands we are ‘time-rich and money poor’, therefore doing things we didn’t do before. Including cleaning, scraping and chopping vegetables.
This is good news for farmers and growers resulting in less waste and lower energy and labour costs. Also it cuts out the middle man, as well as being better for the environment as less plastic packaging is required.
It is encouraging to hear that Rishi Sunak is being tasked by Boris to exploit the advantages and opportunities of Brexit by turning the UK into the ‘Singapore of Europe’.
The Chancellor’s new body, called the Better Regulation Committee, will focus in particular on the PM’s big ticket infrastructure projects, dubbed ‘Boris’s bridges and buses’. These, to date, have been hampered by European rules, along with cutting edge science and technology projects, and greater help for struggling small businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
Singapore’s low-tax, low-regulation economy, would be welcomed in particular by the financial services industry. Also the programme of regulatory reform will push the boundaries, boost creative thinking and inject pace at the heart of government.
Hopefully Priti Patel will now clamp down heavily on criminals and drug dealers – Singapore style. And, introduce their form of National Service which is well overdue in the UK.
Encouragingly No 10 is breaking through the gloom of the Covid pandemic by presenting an upbeat vision of the UK’s prospects, now free from Brussels’ stranglehold.
More good news for farmers, landowners and rural communities as travellers who set up unauthorised camps on private land face a crackdown. Under a new law, part of the criminal justice bill, intentional trespass will become a criminal offence.
This enables the police to seize vehicles and arrest travellers who will face a three month prison sentence or £2,500 fine, or both, if they refuse to move at the landowner’s request.
I have on numerous occasions criticised the BBC. However, I have come to the conclusion it is not the organisation which needs reforming but certain over paid staff and presenters who should be sacked, along with several at ITV and LBC.
The BBC makes some very decent programmes, notably the World Service which produces outstanding programmes by excellent presenters.
Those letting down the BBC are individuals who are politically biased, self-opinionated and arrogant. They clearly believe they are superior to the VIPs and experts they interview.
Many panel games, light comedy and game shows also clearly scrape the bottom of the barrel and come up with dregs. Satire is one thing, outright crude insults another.
The British Broadcasting Corporation should present high quality, unbiased news, views, public information and quality entertainment. It is time to stop the smut and derogatory criticism of world leaders, politicians and medical experts.
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