Day: February 16, 2020

    The government is likely to delay next month’s budget in the wake of Sajid Javid’s resignation, according to the transport secretary. Richmond (Yorkshire) MP Rishi Sunak was promoted to chancellor in Thursday’s cabinet reshuffle, after Javid refused to sack all of his special advisers as demanded by Boris Johnson. Sunak will now handle the country’s finances, but Downing Street staffing arrangements have been altered so there is now a combined staff between Number 10 and Number 11. Transport secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News this morning that the 11 March budget would likely be delayed for Sunak to get better acquainted with the new role. “I know the budget plans are well advanced but I also know that Rishi Sunak, the new chancellor, may want time,” he said. “...

    Schools and nurseries do not need to close or send pupils home in the event of contact with someone suspected of having the coronavirus, according to new guidelines to be issued to schools across the UK this week. In the face of confusion over what the correct response should be, Public Health England and the Department for Education are to issue headteachers and childcare providers with fresh guidance on Monday . Some schools in Brighton and Hove have told parents they can choose to keep their children off school as authorised absences, after five people from the area were diagnosed with the virus, also known as Covid-19. But a department spokeswoman said: We are aware that some schools have said that parents can keep their children at home this is not the advice....