Day: November 2, 2020

    Boris Johnson has announced the government will double the level of financial support for self-employed workers in November during the second coronavirus lockdown in England. Faced with mounting pressure to help millions of workers before new measures are imposed on Thursday, the prime minister said the self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) would be increased from 40% of average profits to 80% in November. People who work for themselves will be able to apply from the end of the month rather than the middle of December as initially planned to help provide support faster during the second lockdown in England. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, confirmed that the increase would be to an average of 55% of trading profits over the wider period from November to January...

    A furious Tory MP has attacked Boris Johnson over plans for a second national lockdown, accusing the Prime Minister of creating an "authoritative and coercive state". Mr Johnson is in the Commons this afternoon attempting to head off a fierce Tory rebellion over the impending measures, which are scheduled to come into force on Thursday. The Prime Minister insisted the plans were “time limited” and he hoped to lift the latest draconian restrictions on December 2 when the country will return to the coronavirus tier system. However, furious backbench Tory MPs have called the latest measures “evil” and warned they will “ruin lives”. Sir Charles Walker,  Conservative MP for Broxbourne, said he would not be supporting the government’s legislation and added: “As we drift...