inews--2020-04-20--Coronavirus: The continued lack of PPE for frontline medics and carers is a national scandal

Coronavirus : The continued lack of PPE for frontline medics and carers is a national scandal Changing guidance now to insist that weaker protection is adequate , based on scarcity rather than new clinical evidence We have been sluggish to realise the magnitude of the problem , wasting precious time that could have been spent on procurement ; overestimated our ability to cope without radical changes to distribution ; and failed to capitalise on manufacturers ’ willingness to retool their production lines to churn out equipment .
Changing guidance now to insist that weaker protection is adequate , based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermines medics ’ confidence in government .
They deserve better .
Whether you are a key worker , a Covid-19 survivor , simply isolated or have a tale about your community , we like to hear from you .
The Wiltshire reader and supermarket worker Gaynor Frostick has a plea to customers today .
I read Dr Emma Kavanagh ’ s article on how people cope in extreme conditions ( i , 17 April ) .
She is absolutely right about those of us who are key workers , but not doctors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the supermarket where I work , but it has been stressful .
The reason is that as soon as customers come through the door , they feel a sense of normality and completely forget rules about social distancing .
Their meandering and procrastinating while they decide what ’ s for dinner tonight is both irritating and frustrating .
Please remember , when you come in you are putting my life and those of my colleagues at risk .
Spare us a thought , shop quickly and efficiently and reduce our anxiety .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up royal duties for an independent life ( Photo : Getty ) If the Sussexes had written to us – as they have to the UK ’ s tabloid press – saying that they were ending all co-operation , we would have politely returned the letter to them and let them know we were not articularly interested .
As our media correspondent , Adam Sherwin , writes in his analysis today , their latest salvo against The Sun , Mirror , Mail and Express is unlikely to add much jollity to their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories about them , nor readers reading them , nor reduce the couple ’ s public profile .
I wish them well in their new life in California – and that they can find peace and happiness .
Saving lives before they have begun is an astonishing feat of medicine .
Professor Mark Kilby was the first person in his family to go to university .

The continued lack of protective kit for frontline medics and carers is shameful. Notwithstanding the shortages and logistical difficulties in global supply chains, the UK response could be much more substantial.
We have been sluggish to realise the magnitude of the problem, wasting precious time that could have been spent on procurement; overestimated our ability to cope without radical changes to distribution; and failed to capitalise on manufacturers’ willingness to retool their production lines to churn out equipment. Changing guidance now to insist that weaker protection is adequate, based on scarcity rather than new clinical evidence, undermines medics’ confidence in government. They deserve better.
Your contributions to “i view” – daily perspectives on the pandemic from our readers – continue to entertain, enlighten and sometimes appal our comment editor Barbara Speed and me.
Whether you are a key worker, a Covid-19 survivor, simply isolated or have a tale about your community, we like to hear from you. The Wiltshire reader and supermarket worker Gaynor Frostick has a plea to customers today.
Spare a thought for the supermarket workers I read Dr Emma Kavanagh’s article on how people cope in extreme conditions (i, 17 April). She is absolutely right about those of us who are key workers, but not doctors and nurses. We are not saving lives in the supermarket where I work, but it has been stressful. The reason is that as soon as customers come through the door, they feel a sense of normality and completely forget rules about social distancing. Their meandering and procrastinating while they decide what’s for dinner tonight is both irritating and frustrating. Please remember, when you come in you are putting my life and those of my colleagues at risk. Spare us a thought, shop quickly and efficiently and reduce our anxiety. Gaynor Frostick, Warminster, Wiltshire
Imagine for a moment that i cares greatly about royal news and gossip. Impossible, isn’t it?
If the Sussexes had written to us – as they have to the UK’s tabloid press – saying that they were ending all co-operation, we would have politely returned the letter to them and let them know we were not articularly interested.
As our media correspondent, Adam Sherwin, writes in his analysis today, their latest salvo against The Sun, Mirror, Mail and Express is unlikely to add much jollity to their lives, nor stop those titles from publishing stories about them, nor readers reading them, nor reduce the couple’s public profile. I wish them well in their new life in California – and that they can find peace and happiness.
Read More Life and Birth: Doctor explains how he operates on babies still in the womb, saving lives before they’ve even begun
Saving lives before they have begun is an astonishing feat of medicine. Professor Mark Kilby was the first person in his family to go to university.
He says: “It’s very nice to hear when kids are growing up and things have gone well.”


inews--2020-04-20--Oil price negative for first time in history as coronavirus pandemic hits demand

Oil price negative for first time in history as coronavirus pandemic hits demand Storage space for the excess oil could run out in a fortnight , experts warn Oil prices crashed less than zero for the first time in history as demand plummeted because of the coronavirus pandemic .
It meant that some traders were being paid to take oil off the hands of producers , because storage capacity for the excess threatens to run out within two weeks .
The West Texas Intermediate index , the US marker of oil prices , lost more than 250 per cent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40.32 ( -£32.43 ) a barrel .
Lockdowns imposed in light of the coronavirus - with fewer people driving - have hit many of the world ’ s major economies and sent the demand for crude down by as much as a third .
Stephen Schork , editor of oil-market newsletter The Schork Report , warned that the storage capacity in the US is likely to be exhausted within the next fortnight .
He also said that a sharp rise in unemployment numbers would mean fewer Americans would be driving and this would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for petrol .
He told the FT : “ It just gets uglier from here .
This summer is dead on arrival .
The biggest demand months are not going to happen.
” Information messages are displayed on the roads , with fewer drivers during coronavirus lockdown ( Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ) Jim Burkhard , vice president and head of oil markets at IHS Markit , said : “ There is such a massive supply surplus and very little places to store it , and that 's what ’ s driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s head of oil markets said : “ As production continues relatively unscathed , storage is filling up by the day .
The world is using less and less oil and producers now feel how this translates in prices.
” However , the collapse is unlikely to lead directly to significant discounts for drivers at the pumps .
The price of Brent crude to be delivered in June was only down 10 % at $ 25.63 per barrel .
Despite the chaos in the oil markets , London ’ s top shares edged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 25 points to finish 0.45 % higher at 5,812.83 .
But across Europe investors are expecting the health crisis to erode first-quarter profits for companies by 22 % , according to Refinitiv data , based on the Stoxx 600 index of Europe ’ s biggest companies .
“ Now we ’ ve got people asking companies questions that have never been asked – how many weeks or months of liquidity do you have looking at your current cash flow and revenue ?
” said Benji Dawes , who co-manages the UK Growth @ @ @ @ @

Oil prices crashed less than zero for the first time in history as demand plummeted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It meant that some traders were being paid to take oil off the hands of producers, because storage capacity for the excess threatens to run out within two weeks.
The West Texas Intermediate index, the US marker of oil prices, lost more than 250 per cent and fell to as low as -$40.32 (-£32.43) a barrel.
Storage
Lockdowns imposed in light of the coronavirus – with fewer people driving – have hit many of the world’s major economies and sent the demand for crude down by as much as a third.
Stephen Schork, editor of oil-market newsletter The Schork Report, warned that the storage capacity in the US is likely to be exhausted within the next fortnight.
He also said that a sharp rise in unemployment numbers would mean fewer Americans would be driving and this would have a further impact on the demand for petrol.
He told the FT: “It just gets uglier from here. This summer is dead on arrival. The biggest demand months are not going to happen.”
Jim Burkhard, vice president and head of oil markets at IHS Markit, said: “There is such a massive supply surplus and very little places to store it, and that’s what’s driving this.”
Bjornar Tonhaugen, Rystad’s head of oil markets said: “As production continues relatively unscathed, storage is filling up by the day. The world is using less and less oil and producers now feel how this translates in prices.”
Petrol pump prices
However, the collapse is unlikely to lead directly to significant discounts for drivers at the pumps. The price of Brent crude to be delivered in June was only down 10% at $25.63 per barrel.
Despite the chaos in the oil markets, London’s top shares edged higher. The FTSE 100 gained more than 25 points to finish 0.45% higher at 5,812.83.
Gains
UK-listed stocks managed to make gains, with tobacco, telecoms and consumer goods companies the star performers.
But across Europe investors are expecting the health crisis to erode first-quarter profits for companies by 22%, according to Refinitiv data, based on the Stoxx 600 index of Europe’s biggest companies.
“Now we’ve got people asking companies questions that have never been asked – how many weeks or months of liquidity do you have looking at your current cash flow and revenue?” said Benji Dawes, who co-manages the UK Growth Fund at Premier Miton.
“That’s why we’re starting to see companies raising equity.”


inews--2020-04-20--Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: 140,000 firms apply for wages of million workers to be covered

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme : 140,000 firms apply for wages of million workers to be covered Businesses flooded the coronavirus job-retention scheme with applications for help to tide them over - and avoid making staff redundant - after it went live on Monday 20 April .
Under the programme the Treasury pays 80 per cent of the wages of staff who are “ furloughed ” - remaining on the company payroll - during the crisis up to a limit of £2,500 a month .
The take-up has been far higher than expected and could eventually cover around 8m employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at a potential cost to the taxpayer of £50bn .
Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on whether the programme could be extended again Mr Sunak said companies will receive their cash in six working days , telling a Downing Street press conference : “ The grants they will receive will help pay the wages of more than a million people , a million people who if they had n't been furloughed would have been at risk of losing their job.
” The cost of the scheme was initially estimated at £42bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the end of the June , raising the prospect of a bill of £50bn to prevent millions of people joining the dole queue .
The Resolution Foundation think tank calculated that the grants confirmed in the first 24 hours were equivalent to £4.2bn over three months .
Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on whether the programme could be extended again in the event of tough social distancing restrictions remaining in place .
“ We don ’ t have an estimate of take-up yet .
It ’ s just the first day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those numbers to continue to increase over the coming days , ” he said .
HM Revenue & Customs has around 5,000 staff operating the scheme and has built computer systems designed to cope with 450,000 applications an hour .
Phone lines and web-chat services have been set up to answer queries from applicants .
Mike Cherry , the chairman of the Federation of Small Business , said : “ Initial feedback about the job retention scheme has been positive .
The real mark of success for this scheme will be money in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month.
” Mr Sunak dismissed calls for an increase in the Government guarantee on loans to cushion small businesses against the economic impact of the lockdown .
Labour has called for ministers to underwrite 100 per cent of the loans taken under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme instead of the current 80 per cent guarantee .
The Chancellor said : “ I think when you look at the totality of what we ’ re doing it ’ s more significant in scope and scale than most of those other countries .
@

More than 140,000 companies have already asked for emergency help to safeguard the jobs of one million workers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has disclosed.
Businesses flooded the coronavirus job-retention scheme with applications for help to tide them over – and avoid making staff redundant – after it went live on Monday 20 April.
Under the programme the Treasury pays 80 per cent of the wages of staff who are “furloughed” – remaining on the company payroll – during the crisis up to a limit of £2,500 a month.
The take-up has been far higher than expected and could eventually cover around 8m employees, around one-third of the private sector workforce, at a potential cost to the taxpayer of £50bn.
Mr Sunak said companies will receive their cash in six working days, telling a Downing Street press conference: “The grants they will receive will help pay the wages of more than a million people, a million people who if they hadn’t been furloughed would have been at risk of losing their job.”
Scheme extension
The cost of the scheme was initially estimated at £42bn, but it has since been extended to the end of the June, raising the prospect of a bill of £50bn to prevent millions of people joining the dole queue.
The Resolution Foundation think tank calculated that the grants confirmed in the first 24 hours were equivalent to £4.2bn over three months.
Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on whether the programme could be extended again in the event of tough social distancing restrictions remaining in place.
“We don’t have an estimate of take-up yet. It’s just the first day the scheme is open and I expect those numbers to continue to increase over the coming days,” he said.
HM Revenue & Customs has around 5,000 staff operating the scheme and has built computer systems designed to cope with 450,000 applications an hour. Phone lines and web-chat services have been set up to answer queries from applicants.
Loan increase ruled out
Mike Cherry, the chairman of the Federation of Small Business, said: “Initial feedback about the job retention scheme has been positive. The real mark of success for this scheme will be money in employer back accounts by the end of the month.”
Mr Sunak dismissed calls for an increase in the Government guarantee on loans to cushion small businesses against the economic impact of the lockdown.
Labour has called for ministers to underwrite 100 per cent of the loans taken under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme instead of the current 80 per cent guarantee.
The Chancellor said: “I think when you look at the totality of what we’re doing it’s more significant in scope and scale than most of those other countries.”


inews--2020-04-20--Life and Birth: Doctor explains how he operates on babies still in the womb, saving lives before the

Life and Birth: Doctor explains how he operates on babies still in the womb, saving lives before they've even begun

Life and Birth : Doctor explains how he operates on babies still in the womb , saving lives before they 've even begun Prof Mark Kilby : 'Some of the tension relates to wanting to do the best for the baby , but also realising you ’ re operating on two people' Billie-Joe has a rare twin pregnancy , where one of the twins has no formed brain or heartbeat , but is taking the nutrients and oxygen from the healthy sibling , which is working so hard to support both of them that it is at risk of having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 weeks .
Billie-Joe is pregnant with twins , and she and her boyfriend Josh are excited about becoming parents ( Photo : Ryan McNamara/Dragonfly ) “ This rare twin condition happens in one in 100,000 pregnancies , ” he tells i .
“ It doesn ’ t seem many , and it isn ’ t , but because we get referrals from all over the north of England , the Midlands and the Home Counties , we probably see one of these every two weeks.
” With the help of his team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billie-Joe ’ s stomach , and into the womb .
Ultrasound is the only way he can see his tiny patient in utero .
“ One of the biggest developments in the last 100 years , ” he says , “ has been the development and refinement of ultrasound.
” The needle disperses heat using radio waves , which cuts off the bloody supply from the healthy baby ( known as the pump twin ) to the parasitic foetus , to let the developed baby grow .
The entire procedure takes under an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chances of the healthy baby surviving is eight or nine out of 10 .
Professor Mark Kilby says : 'The pressure on medicine is immense at the moment ' ( Photo : Ryan McNamara/Dragonfly ) Before the first foetal therapy was carried out in the 1960s , no babies or their mothers had the chance of help like this .
For Kilby , who was the first person in his family to go to university , it is this fact that propels him through his research .
“ Generations of babies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition , ” he says , “ with physicians and specialists knowing that if they had been able to intervene many weeks before , while the baby was still in womb , the outcome would have been very different .
Now , being able to change the course of a disease in utero hopefully leads to a very good outcome for mother and baby.
” He does this by threading a catheter into the womb and under the baby ’ s chest to drain the fluid and let the lungs grow .
Kilby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year on anaemic babies before they are born .
“ The majority of parents have none of these problems , ” he says .
However , he sees the ones who do .
With his own children now grown up , how does he switch off when he gets home ?
“ You don ’ t always .
It ’ s incredibly difficult , and I ’ m not sure I ’ ve made a success of being able to do that perfectly .
But learning to wind down is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hearing from the parents he has helped .
“ It ’ s very nice to hear when kids are growing up and things have gone well .
I have to say , though , it ’ s when things don ’ t turn out happily ever after that stick in your mind.
” The future looks hopeful for foetal medicine , with UK scientists working with colleagues across the world .
“ I ’ m pleased with the way things have been going , ” Kilby says ; “ but the challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use technology to minimise the impact on the baby and mother – but that ’ s probably a little way off.
” Professor Mark Kilby at work in the BBC documentary Life and Birth ( Photo : Ryan McNamara/Dragonfly ) “ Work is continuing , ” the surgeon says , “ but I wouldn ’ t say it ’ s continuing as normal .
We rely on people performing other roles at other hospitals first , and then referring people to us from their centres ; so if someone who performs an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reduced , then there is more limited screening of babies with problems .

Billie-Joe is pregnant with twins, and she and her boyfriend Josh are excited about becoming parents – except that having children has become more complicated than the couple imagined it could be.
Billie-Joe has a rare twin pregnancy, where one of the twins has no formed brain or heartbeat, but is taking the nutrients and oxygen from the healthy sibling, which is working so hard to support both of them that it is at risk of having heart failure and dying at 20 to 24 weeks.
Thanks to medical progress, however, surgeons are able to operate on the unborn babies in the womb to try to change a bleak outcome into a positive one.
The doctor for this highly specialised job is Professor Mark Kilby, a clinical scientist and consultant in foetal medicine at the Birmingham Women’s Foundation Trust Hospital.
Saving lives before they’ve begun
“This rare twin condition happens in one in 100,000 pregnancies,” he tells i. “It doesn’t seem many, and it isn’t, but because we get referrals from all over the north of England, the Midlands and the Home Counties, we probably see one of these every two weeks.”
With the help of his team, Kilby threads a skinny needle into Billie-Joe’s stomach, and into the womb. Ultrasound is the only way he can see his tiny patient in utero. “One of the biggest developments in the last 100 years,” he says, “has been the development and refinement of ultrasound.”
The needle disperses heat using radio waves, which cuts off the bloody supply from the healthy baby (known as the pump twin) to the parasitic foetus, to let the developed baby grow. The entire procedure takes under an hour and if all goes well, the chances of the healthy baby surviving is eight or nine out of 10.
Kilby’s procedure on Billie-Joe is shown as part of the BBC’s new fly-on-the-wall series Life and Birth, narrated by Suranne Jones, which looks at life on the labour wards of three Birmingham hospitals.
“I knew things could go wrong in pregnancy, but I didn’t know about this,” Josh says. “We just have to wrap our heads around it and think of what’s best for the baby.”
Good outcomes
After qualifying from Guy’s Hospital medical school in London 36 years ago, does Kilby still feel the pressure? “What I find so interesting about this area,” he replies, “is that you have two patients, the mum and her unborn baby, and that’s extremely unusual.”
While his work mostly benefits the baby, there are risks of still-birth, miscarriage, premature birth – and a small chance of infection. “We go to great lengths to stop that happening, but it’s at the back of your mind,” he says.
“Some of the tension relates to wanting to do the best for the baby, but also realising you’re operating on two people. And the mother is more than an innocent bystander in all of this.”
Before the first foetal therapy was carried out in the 1960s, no babies or their mothers had the chance of help like this. For Kilby, who was the first person in his family to go to university, it is this fact that propels him through his research.
“Generations of babies were born dead or in a very poor condition,” he says, “with physicians and specialists knowing that if they had been able to intervene many weeks before, while the baby was still in womb, the outcome would have been very different. Now, being able to change the course of a disease in utero hopefully leads to a very good outcome for mother and baby.”
As well as intervening in complex twin cases like Billie-Joe’s, Kilby operates on babies in the womb at risk of heart failure from an abnormal build-up of fluid in their chest, which squashes their lungs.
He does this by threading a catheter into the womb and under the baby’s chest to drain the fluid and let the lungs grow. Kilby also performs 40 to 50 blood transfusions a year on anaemic babies before they are born. “The majority of parents have none of these problems,” he says. However, he sees the ones who do.
With his own children now grown up, how does he switch off when he gets home? “You don’t always. It’s incredibly difficult, and I’m not sure I’ve made a success of being able to do that perfectly. But learning to wind down is part of medical training.”
What brings him joy is hearing from the parents he has helped. “It’s very nice to hear when kids are growing up and things have gone well. I have to say, though, it’s when things don’t turn out happily ever after that stick in your mind.”
The future looks hopeful for foetal medicine, with UK scientists working with colleagues across the world. “I’m pleased with the way things have been going,” Kilby says; “but the challenge is now to perfect non-invasive procedures, to use technology to minimise the impact on the baby and mother – but that’s probably a little way off.”
For now, the surgeon has to get back to mothers such as Billie-Joe and give their babies the best chance of being born healthy and ready for the world.
Lockdown — ‘Work goes on’
With most of the NHS’s attention focused on the coronavirus crisis, how is this affecting maternity units and Professor Kilby’s delicate work?
“Work is continuing,” the surgeon says, “but I wouldn’t say it’s continuing as normal. We rely on people performing other roles at other hospitals first, and then referring people to us from their centres; so if someone who performs an ultrasound is sick, and staff numbers are reduced, then there is more limited screening of babies with problems.
“The pressure on medicine is immense at the moment. Of course, pregnant women also get Covid-19 – so again, that leads to a change of focus when it comes to the mother.
“However, for the most part, work goes on. There is limited evidence that the virus has a direct effect on babies, but indirectly it can raise risk of complications in pregnancy.
“There are many viruses that can attack a baby in the womb, and so far evidence is that Covid-19 does not. But it is early days.”
Life and Birth begins on Tuesday on BBC1 at 8pm


inews--2020-04-20--Coronavirus lockdown: Boris Johnson to take cautious approach amid fears of second peak of Covid-19

Coronavirus lockdown: Boris Johnson to take cautious approach amid fears of second peak of Covid-19 infections

Coronavirus lockdown : Boris Johnson to take cautious approach amid fears of second peak of Covid-19 infections Prime Minister is facing splits in his Cabinet over lifting restrictions Boris Johnson will take a cautious approach to easing the nationwide lockdown due to fears a second peak of Covid-19 infections could do further damage to the economy .
The Prime Minister is battling to contain splits within his Cabinet over how quickly the Government should lift restrictions placed on the UK to limit the spread of coronavirus .
Mr Johnson is receiving daily updates on the work being carried out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery from Covid-19 at Chequers .
He is facing pressure from more “ hawkish ” ministers , such as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove and Chancellor Rishi Sunak , as well as his Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill , to loosen the measures more quickly to avoid sustained damage to the economy .
Those more “ dovish ” ministers in favour of a longer lockdown to protect lives include the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Prime Minister ’ s chief adviser Dominic Cummings , who want to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a halt before lifting restrictions .
Downing Street sources said Mr Johnson was “ very concerned ” that the country will be hit by a second wave of Covid-19 cases if the measures were relaxed too quickly .
It means the Government is likely to gradually “ adjust ” the nationwide lockdown rather than lift it entirely when it comes up for review in less than three weeks ’ time .
Ministers are taking a cautious approach to easing the nationwide lockdown ( Photo : GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty ) The Prime Minister ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a second peak .
That is what ultimately will do the most damage to health and the most damage to the economy .
“ If you move too quickly , then the virus could begin to spread exponentially again .
The public will expect us to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus and protect life.
” His approach appears to be echoed by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon , who stressed that she would not `` rush '' into moves which could lead to a resurgence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would risk overwhelming the National Health Service and it would put many more lives at risk , ” she said .
Ministers have continued to resist ongoing pressure to detail their plans on exiting the strict measures , with Mr Sunak using the press conference to reiterate that the Government 's focus is to “ stick to the guidance ” to stay at home .
His comments came after it emerged the Treasury has forecast the economy could suffer lasting damage as a result of the continued lockdown .
While both Mr Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy quickly “ bouncing back ” from the pandemic , Treasury officials are now modelling a “ U-shaped ” recovery amid fears there will not be an immediate response once restrictions are removed .

Boris Johnson will take a cautious approach to easing the nationwide lockdown due to fears a second peak of Covid-19 infections could do further damage to the economy.
The Prime Minister is battling to contain splits within his Cabinet over how quickly the Government should lift restrictions placed on the UK to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson is receiving daily updates on the work being carried out to battle the pandemic as he continues his recovery from Covid-19 at Chequers.
Hawks and doves
He is facing pressure from more “hawkish” ministers, such as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, as well as his Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, to loosen the measures more quickly to avoid sustained damage to the economy.
Those more “dovish” ministers in favour of a longer lockdown to protect lives include the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Prime Minister’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who want to see the transmission of the disease brought to a halt before lifting restrictions.
Downing Street sources said Mr Johnson was “very concerned” that the country will be hit by a second wave of Covid-19 cases if the measures were relaxed too quickly.
It means the Government is likely to gradually “adjust” the nationwide lockdown rather than lift it entirely when it comes up for review in less than three weeks’ time.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The big concern is a second peak. That is what ultimately will do the most damage to health and the most damage to the economy.
“If you move too quickly, then the virus could begin to spread exponentially again. The public will expect us to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus and protect life.”
His approach appears to be echoed by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who stressed that she would not “rush” into moves which could lead to a resurgence of the virus.
“To do that would risk overwhelming the National Health Service and it would put many more lives at risk,” she said.
U-shaped recovery
Ministers have continued to resist ongoing pressure to detail their plans on exiting the strict measures, with Mr Sunak using the press conference to reiterate that the Government’s focus is to “stick to the guidance” to stay at home.
His comments came after it emerged the Treasury has forecast the economy could suffer lasting damage as a result of the continued lockdown.
While both Mr Johnson and his Chancellor initially spoke of the economy quickly “bouncing back” from the pandemic, Treasury officials are now modelling a “U-shaped” recovery amid fears there will not be an immediate response once restrictions are removed.


inews--2020-04-20--Rebecca Solnit: 'In writing about harassment and menace, I felt very ordinary'

Rebecca Solnit : 'In writing about harassment and menace , I felt very ordinary' Rebecca Solnit is America ’ s voice of resistance , who coined the term ‘ mansplaining ’ .
She tells Max Liu why it is just as relevant today For many people , the writer and activist Rebecca Solnit is the voice of the resistance in Donald Trump ’ s America .
Her 2008 essay “ Men Explain Things to Me ” included the term “ mansplaining ” for the first time and was a harbinger of the # MeToo movement .
But Solnit consistently finds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so I can not think of a better person to speak to in the midst of our current crisis .
Solnit ’ s 2009 book A Paradise Built in Hell , which is about the unlikely communities that arise out of disasters , is also acquiring fresh relevance amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ People come up with new ways of connecting at times of disaster , ” says the 58-year-old from self-imposed quarantine in San Francisco , where she has lived for all her adult life .
“ The status quo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for things being different .
“ There is an inherent radicalising because life has suddenly become uncertain and dangerous and people feel that what matters has shifted and what you need to fight for , and what you think you can win , has shifted .
It ’ s too soon to say who will win the battle but there will be a battle because what ’ s fixed has come loose and what changes is up for grabs.
” Isolation is a part of daily life for Solnit .
“ As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 years , I feel like I ’ m the least disrupted of anyone , ” she says .
“ Some of us feel that our existence is justified by productivity .
For me , it ’ s a habit that partly comes from anxiety .
When I was young , I had to be incredibly productive to make a living because I was paid at such a low rate .
But I already miss going out and chewing the fat.
” Rebecca Solnit : ‘ To be a young woman is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no surprise that Solnit , who speaks in long , multi-clause sentences that can be as mesmerising to listen to as her prose is to read , is missing everyday conversation .
At the beginning of her new memoir , Recollections of My Non-Existence , she fondly recalls walking the streets of the predominantly black neighbourhood in San Francisco she moved to in 1981 and where she lived in the same small apartment for 25 years .
She would stop to chat to people , in particular her elderly building manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to pay homage to Mr Young , ” she says .
“ He was this protective figure amidst the violence .
In this book , I felt like I was asking : how does it feel to be a woman in a society in which harming women is fun and popular , according to a lot of dominant messaging ?
” Solnit powerfully describes being belittled by men , followed home at night , snubbed by her former publisher , mugged and , perhaps most damaging of all , dismissed as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To be a young woman , ” she writes , “ is to face your own annihilation in innumerable ways.
” The point is that her story is unexceptional .
Are things better today for the new generation of women than they were for her in the 1980s and 90s ?
“ This moment is much more difficult , ” says Solnit .
“ Feminism is much stronger , but the economic realities are monstrous .
I recognise the sheer terror in it and I don ’ t think we have much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing young people .
We talk in casual formulas : ‘ You ’ ll go to college and become a productive member of society.
’ But that doesn ’ t address the existential question of what you ’ re going to do with the next 50 years.
” Writing is , Solnit says , a “ professionalisation ” of what she calls in her memoir “ the heroic task of becoming ” .
Everyone faces this task but it is complicated for women by structural sexism .
As she writes : “ How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s all around you keeps telling you to shut up and do the dishes ?
” She recounts how Jane Austen , Michael Ondaatje , Ursula K Le Guin and other novelists and poets “ set my mind on fire ” , but she knew early on that her vocation was essayistic non-fiction .
“ It was a neglected form but it was so clearly what I wanted to do , ” she says .
“ I ’ m still asked when I ’ m going to write a novel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparation for that .
Well , given that I don ’ t do characters , dialogue or plot… ” She breaks off , laughing .
Solnit was raised in California by a Jewish father and Irish mother .
Studying for a postgraduate degree in journalism at the University of California , Berkeley , was , she says , “ immeasurably invaluable ” because it taught her how to shape stories , verify facts and meet deadlines .
Afterwards , she worked in the art world , while building her career as a freelance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study of six Californian artists .
She reached a wider readership with Wanderlust : A History of Walking ( 2000 ) and she ’ s since published several works , including A Field Guide to Getting Lost ( 2005 ) , Infinite City ( 2010 ) and The Mother of All Questions ( 2017 ) , which blend cultural criticism , travelogue and autobiography .
Was Solnit surprised that it resonated with so many women ?
“ It was profoundly depressing to find out how many women felt this disparagement and diminishment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In the 12 years since it was published I ’ ve heard from women in every imaginable profession who tell me about the mansplaining they ’ ve encountered .
But I like to think my work is for everybody .
I have no desire to shut out men.
” When she was younger she felt “ driven to redeem my existence by achievement ” .
What drives her today ?
“ External nagging and habit , ” she says .
“ But I have slowed down a bit because I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t orchestrate my life to do the best writing I possibly can , I will have missed the boat in a way that could be permanent.
” Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit , published by Granta Last year , she called Elizabeth Warren “ a better candidate for president than I ever expected we ’ d have ” .
Will Solnit vote for Joe Biden now that he has all but won the Democratic nomination for November ’ s election ?
“ I vowed if necessary I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoe against Trump , ” she says .
“ A lot of us Warren supporters have a faint daydream that things will shift again with these elderly male candidates .
Since she dropped out of the presidential race , Warren has not ended her colossal public presence as a spokesperson for the vulnerable .

For many people, the writer and activist Rebecca Solnit is the voice of the resistance in Donald Trump’s America. Her 2008 essay “Men Explain Things to Me” included the term “mansplaining” for the first time and was a harbinger of the #MeToo movement. But Solnit consistently finds reasons for hope in the bleakest circumstances, so I cannot think of a better person to speak to in the midst of our current crisis.
Solnit’s 2009 book A Paradise Built in Hell, which is about the unlikely communities that arise out of disasters, is also acquiring fresh relevance amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “People come up with new ways of connecting at times of disaster,” says the 58-year-old from self-imposed quarantine in San Francisco, where she has lived for all her adult life. “The status quo cracks and in those cracks are possibilities for things being different.
“There is an inherent radicalising because life has suddenly become uncertain and dangerous and people feel that what matters has shifted and what you need to fight for, and what you think you can win, has shifted. It’s too soon to say who will win the battle but there will be a battle because what’s fixed has come loose and what changes is up for grabs.”
Isolation is a part of daily life for Solnit. “As a writer who has worked at home for 32 years, I feel like I’m the least disrupted of anyone,” she says. “Some of us feel that our existence is justified by productivity. For me, it’s a habit that partly comes from anxiety. When I was young, I had to be incredibly productive to make a living because I was paid at such a low rate. But I already miss going out and chewing the fat.”
It’s no surprise that Solnit, who speaks in long, multi-clause sentences that can be as mesmerising to listen to as her prose is to read, is missing everyday conversation. At the beginning of her new memoir, Recollections of My Non-Existence, she fondly recalls walking the streets of the predominantly black neighbourhood in San Francisco she moved to in 1981 and where she lived in the same small apartment for 25 years. She would stop to chat to people, in particular her elderly building manager, Mr Young.
“I always intended to pay homage to Mr Young,” she says. “He was this protective figure amidst the violence. In this book, I felt like I was asking: how does it feel to be a woman in a society in which harming women is fun and popular, according to a lot of dominant messaging?”
Solnit powerfully describes being belittled by men, followed home at night, snubbed by her former publisher, mugged and, perhaps most damaging of all, dismissed as an unreliable narrator of her own experience. “To be a young woman,” she writes, “is to face your own annihilation in innumerable ways.” The point is that her story is unexceptional.
“A lot of memoirs say, ‘I went through the worst thing possible, look at me.’ But in writing about my experiences of harassment and menace, I felt very ordinary. I wanted to convey that even a woman’s life, in which no single spectacular act of violence happens, is harrowing.”
Are things better today for the new generation of women than they were for her in the 1980s and 90s? “This moment is much more difficult,” says Solnit. “Feminism is much stronger, but the economic realities are monstrous. I recognise the sheer terror in it and I don’t think we have much discourse around the immensity of the tasks facing young people. We talk in casual formulas: ‘You’ll go to college and become a productive member of society.’ But that doesn’t address the existential question of what you’re going to do with the next 50 years.”
‘To be a young woman is to face annihilation in innumerable ways’
Writing is, Solnit says, a “professionalisation” of what she calls in her memoir “the heroic task of becoming”. Everyone faces this task but it is complicated for women by structural sexism. As she writes: “How do you make art when the art that’s all around you keeps telling you to shut up and do the dishes?”
She recounts how Jane Austen, Michael Ondaatje, Ursula K Le Guin and other novelists and poets “set my mind on fire”, but she knew early on that her vocation was essayistic non-fiction. “It was a neglected form but it was so clearly what I wanted to do,” she says. “I’m still asked when I’m going to write a novel, with the suggestion that everything else is preparation for that. Well, given that I don’t do characters, dialogue or plot…” She breaks off, laughing.
Solnit was raised in California by a Jewish father and Irish mother. Studying for a postgraduate degree in journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, was, she says, “immeasurably invaluable” because it taught her how to shape stories, verify facts and meet deadlines. Afterwards, she worked in the art world, while building her career as a freelance writer. Her first book was a study of six Californian artists. She reached a wider readership with Wanderlust: A History of Walking (2000) and she’s since published several works, including A Field Guide to Getting Lost (2005), Infinite City (2010) and The Mother of All Questions (2017), which blend cultural criticism, travelogue and autobiography.
“Men Explain Things to Me” begins with an account of meeting a man who lectured her about a “very important book” and, even after it was pointed out that the book was Solnit’s own River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West (2003), ploughed on unabashed.
Was Solnit surprised that it resonated with so many women? “It was profoundly depressing to find out how many women felt this disparagement and diminishment in their daily lives,” she says. “In the 12 years since it was published I’ve heard from women in every imaginable profession who tell me about the mansplaining they’ve encountered. But I like to think my work is for everybody. I have no desire to shut out men.”
In The Faraway Nearby (2013), Solnit wrote about her treatment for cancer, and her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, but Recollections of My Non-Existence is her first work of pure memoir. “Writing it felt different to my other books,” she says, “because it’s really personal and I stayed relentlessly on topic.”
When she was younger she felt “driven to redeem my existence by achievement”. What drives her today? “External nagging and habit,” she says. “But I have slowed down a bit because I am at an age where, if I don’t orchestrate my life to do the best writing I possibly can, I will have missed the boat in a way that could be permanent.”
In recent years, some of her works have taken on second lives. Hope in the Dark (2004), which Solnit wrote during George W Bush’s presidency, was republished and widely discussed after Trump came to power. Progressives found solace in Solnit’s argument that the fruits of activism can take a while to emerge and that we should not abandon hope.
Last year, she called Elizabeth Warren “a better candidate for president than I ever expected we’d have”. Will Solnit vote for Joe Biden now that he has all but won the Democratic nomination for November’s election? “I vowed if necessary I’d support a dead dog or an old shoe against Trump,” she says. “A lot of us Warren supporters have a faint daydream that things will shift again with these elderly male candidates. Since she dropped out of the presidential race, Warren has not ended her colossal public presence as a spokesperson for the vulnerable.
“She’s been better than anyone at being the most pragmatic and visionary person in the Senate, advocating radical change with plans that show how possible it is. So we will see. I still have hope.”
Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit is published by Granta (£16.99)


inews--2020-04-20--Coronavirus: Lack of PPE 'may stop intensive care doctors treating patients'

Head of faculty of intensive care medicine says staff may have to start making life or death decisions from this week Dr Alison Pittard , the dean of the faculty of intensive care medicine , said her members were “ concerned about having to make those sorts of decisions ” .
She said each doctor may have to take an individual view on whether or not to risk treating a Covid-19 patient from this week .
`` We 're very concerned about the update to the PPE guidance , because previously all the updates had been due to an increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it was based on scientific evidence , and therefore safe , but this is the first time there has been a change due to inadequate supply .
We 're not aware of any evidence that supports the view [ the fluid-repellent gown ] provides equivalent protection , '' she said .
Dr Pittard 's warning comes as a shipment of 400,000 surgical gowns , which had been due to arrive in the UK from Turkey on Sunday , was delayed again with trusts forced into `` hand-to-mouth '' workarounds , including washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
One of three RAF planes collecting the PPE from Turkey took off from the UK on Monday evening .
With an estimated return trip of 12 hours , the earliest the first plane will arrive back is this Tuesday morning .
When asked if intensive care consultants are going to be faced with a choice of continuing to deal with patients or not , as the personal risk has become too great due to lack of appropriate PPE , Dr Pittard said : `` This is what out members are concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decisions , and it 's really important that when staff are placed in that sort of position that they take each individual case on its own merits and make their decisions based on the patient they 're seeing and the equipment that is available .
He said : `` This is an international challenge that many other countries are experiencing .
Alongside the efforts of British businesses , and our embassies around the world , we are working hard to get the PPE our frontline NHS and social care staff need .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipments despite the `` unexpected delays '' to the consignment from Turkey .
`` Today we unloaded a shipment of 140,000 gowns from Myanmar , '' he said .
`` We are , of course , continuing to pursue every possible option for PPE procurement . ''
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the Government would 'pursue every possible option ' to secure PPE Asked whether PPE guidance had been downgraded based on availability of equipment rather than safety standards , Public Health England medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said at the briefing : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What has happened over the weekend is to cover people really and given them some security in exceptional circumstances , advice has been produced jointly with the NHS about how to be safe in circumstances where supplies may be at risk .
`` And that is a very precautionary set of advice - it 's quite the opposite to putting people at risk because there are n't enough supplies .
It 's trying to ensure that people are well secured and safe when there may not be enough supplies , and it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take risks and when it is not right to do certain things and practices with the PPE . ''
She said : `` They do n't cover your arms , and your neck and the top of your chest , they 're not covered either .
That means you 're at an increased risk of catching coronavirus and - crucially - at increased risk of spreading it to your patients We are using a pinny essentially - a skimpy , plastic pinny . ''
A grandmother who dedicated much of her life to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 40 years are among the latest healthcare workers to die after catching coronavirus .
Healthcare assistant Margaret Tapley was described as an `` inspiration '' , determined to keep working aged 84 despite the risks of Covid-19 .
She worked at Witney Community Hospital in Oxfordshire , carrying out her last shift on April 10 , and died nine days later at Great Western Hospital , Swindon .
Her nurse grandson Tom Wood said the spirit with which she carried out her work will live on in those who knew and worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there had been 43 NHS England healthcare worker deaths reported as of Saturday .
The true death toll is thought to be much higher .
The Government confirmed on Monday that it is considering a one-minute silence for NHS workers who have lost their lives while on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic .
Meanwhile , a group of 60 stitchers in County Antrim have made more than 4,000 pairs of scrubs in just two weeks for health and care workers which will be distributed to local hospitals and care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Village Blinds in Ballymena , came up with the project when the firm was forced to close temporarily due to Covid-19 .
Mr McCloy said they wanted to do something to help health and care workers .

Intensive care doctors are worried they will have to start making decisions on whether or not to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients due to the ongoing shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), a leading medic has said.
Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the faculty of intensive care medicine, said her members were “concerned about having to make those sorts of decisions”. She said each doctor may have to take an individual view on whether or not to risk treating a Covid-19 patient from this week.
Another concern was the change to PPE guidance which now allows for the use of fluid-repellent gowns, previously only fluid-resistant gowns were the national standard, Dr Pittard said.
“We’re very concerned about the update to the PPE guidance, because previously all the updates had been due to an increase in understanding of how the virus behaves and it was based on scientific evidence, and therefore safe, but this is the first time there has been a change due to inadequate supply. We’re not aware of any evidence that supports the view [the fluid-repellent gown] provides equivalent protection,” she said.
“In critical care staff have been wearing PPE for a longer period of time, but now it has been downgraded to something that probably wouldn’t provide an adequate amount of protection.”
Dr Pittard’s warning comes as a shipment of 400,000 surgical gowns, which had been due to arrive in the UK from Turkey on Sunday, was delayed again with trusts forced into “hand-to-mouth” workarounds, including washing single-use gowns and restricting stocks to key areas. One of three RAF planes collecting the PPE from Turkey took off from the UK on Monday evening. With an estimated return trip of 12 hours, the earliest the first plane will arrive back is this Tuesday morning.
Case by case basis
When asked if intensive care consultants are going to be faced with a choice of continuing to deal with patients or not, as the personal risk has become too great due to lack of appropriate PPE, Dr Pittard said: “This is what out members are concerned about, having to make those sorts of decisions, and it’s really important that when staff are placed in that sort of position that they take each individual case on its own merits and make their decisions based on the patient they’re seeing and the equipment that is available.
“It’s a very individual decision in a very particular set of circumstances. That is our fear [that people are already making those decisions] yes.”
Another 449 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, the lowest daily figure since April 6, bringing the total to 16,509.
As of 9am 20 April, 501,379 tests have concluded, with 19,316 tests on 19 April. 386,044 people have been tested of which 124,743 tested positive. As of 5pm on 19 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 16,509 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/c5suKHMEIS — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 20, 2020
At Monday’s daily briefing, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the Government would “pursue every possible option” to secure PPE.
He said: “This is an international challenge that many other countries are experiencing. Alongside the efforts of British businesses, and our embassies around the world, we are working hard to get the PPE our frontline NHS and social care staff need.”
The Chancellor insisted there were regular shipments despite the “unexpected delays” to the consignment from Turkey. “Today we unloaded a shipment of 140,000 gowns from Myanmar,” he said. “We are, of course, continuing to pursue every possible option for PPE procurement.”
Asked whether PPE guidance had been downgraded based on availability of equipment rather than safety standards, Public Health England medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said at the briefing: “The guidance remains exactly the same. What has happened over the weekend is to cover people really and given them some security in exceptional circumstances, advice has been produced jointly with the NHS about how to be safe in circumstances where supplies may be at risk.
“And that is a very precautionary set of advice – it’s quite the opposite to putting people at risk because there aren’t enough supplies. It’s trying to ensure that people are well secured and safe when there may not be enough supplies, and it also stresses how important it is not to take risks and when it is not right to do certain things and practices with the PPE.”
‘Skimpy aprons’
Oxford-based palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke said NHS workers and those in social care are being told to wear “skimpy little plastic aprons”.
She said: “They don’t cover your arms, and your neck and the top of your chest, they’re not covered either. That means you’re at an increased risk of catching coronavirus and – crucially – at increased risk of spreading it to your patients We are using a pinny essentially – a skimpy, plastic pinny.”
A grandmother who dedicated much of her life to the NHS and a nurse of more than 40 years are among the latest healthcare workers to die after catching coronavirus. Healthcare assistant Margaret Tapley was described as an “inspiration”, determined to keep working aged 84 despite the risks of Covid-19.
She worked at Witney Community Hospital in Oxfordshire, carrying out her last shift on April 10, and died nine days later at Great Western Hospital, Swindon. Her nurse grandson Tom Wood said the spirit with which she carried out her work will live on in those who knew and worked with her.
The Department of Health said there had been 43 NHS England healthcare worker deaths reported as of Saturday. The true death toll is thought to be much higher. The Government confirmed on Monday that it is considering a one-minute silence for NHS workers who have lost their lives while on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, a group of 60 stitchers in County Antrim have made more than 4,000 pairs of scrubs in just two weeks for health and care workers which will be distributed to local hospitals and care homes. Harold and Alison McCloy, owners of Village Blinds in Ballymena, came up with the project when the firm was forced to close temporarily due to Covid-19. Mr McCloy said they wanted to do something to help health and care workers.
“With the urgent need for scrubs so highly documented, we knew this was something practical that we could help with,” he said.


inews--2020-04-20--World Rugby investigating homophobia claims against Fiji's convicted killer chief Francis Kean

The chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union is alleged to have used homophobic language while in charge of the country 's prison service World Rugby is in urgent talks with the Fiji Rugby Union ( FRU ) over allegations of homophobic abuse against the FRU ’ s chairman , Francis Kean , who is a convicted killer .
Kean is standing for election to World Rugby ’ s highly influential Executive Committee , in a vote that opens this Sunday 26 April and which also sees Sir Bill Beaumont and Agustin Pichot vying for the chairmanship of rugby ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Beaumont is his nomination for a second term as chairman was seconded by the FRU , although the former England captain has pointed out the nomination is made by a union not an individual .
Kean has represented Fiji on the World Rugby Council since his country was elected to the 52-person Council for the first time in November 2018 .
He was jailed for 18 months for manslaughter in Fiji in 2007 and released after reportedly serving a third of the sentence .
Kean , the brother-in-law of Fiji ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been charged with murder after a violent altercation with the uncle of the groom at the wedding of Bainimarama ’ s daughter in 2006 .
Last weekend the ‘ Sunday Times ’ alleged Kean used homophobic language during his time in charge of Fiji ’ s prison service since 2016 , and Amnesty International has twice criticised Kean ’ s conduct in that role .
The newspaper said it had heard an audio recording of Kean saying in a rant to prison officials : “ We are not breeding poofters and weaklings here.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fiji Navy , is also alleged to have encouraged an assault on one younger prison officer : “ Take him out one day for some beers , and while he is drunk beat the crap out of the mother******.
” Beaumont announced in January that , if re-elected , he would undertake a full governance review of World Rugby to include a test for fit and proper persons .
This month ’ s elections cover positions for the next four years .
The World Rugby executive committee comprises 12 people : the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief executive Brett Gosper , seven elected members and two independent members .
But both Beaumont and Pichot , the current World Rugby vice-chairman , have already sat alongside Kean in meetings of the Council .
In a statement on Monday , World Rugby said : “ World Rugby notes allegations in the UK ‘ Sunday Times ’ about Fiji Rugby Union Chairman Ratu Vilikesa Bulewa Francis Kean and takes them extremely seriously .
“ Rugby is a sport built on strong and inclusive values and World Rugby does not in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as outlined within its bye-laws .
“ World Rugby is currently in dialogue with the Fiji Rugby Union about the nature of the allegations and it would be inappropriate to further comment at this time .
”

World Rugby is in urgent talks with the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) over allegations of homophobic abuse against the FRU’s chairman, Francis Kean, who is a convicted killer.
Kean is standing for election to World Rugby’s highly influential Executive Committee, in a vote that opens this Sunday 26 April and which also sees Sir Bill Beaumont and Agustin Pichot vying for the chairmanship of rugby’s global governing body.
The potential embarrassment for Beaumont is his nomination for a second term as chairman was seconded by the FRU, although the former England captain has pointed out the nomination is made by a union not an individual.
Kean has represented Fiji on the World Rugby Council since his country was elected to the 52-person Council for the first time in November 2018.
He was jailed for 18 months for manslaughter in Fiji in 2007 and released after reportedly serving a third of the sentence. Kean, the brother-in-law of Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, had originally been charged with murder after a violent altercation with the uncle of the groom at the wedding of Bainimarama’s daughter in 2006.
Last weekend the ‘Sunday Times’ alleged Kean used homophobic language during his time in charge of Fiji’s prison service since 2016, and Amnesty International has twice criticised Kean’s conduct in that role.
The newspaper said it had heard an audio recording of Kean saying in a rant to prison officials: “We are not breeding poofters and weaklings here.” Kean, a former commander in the Fiji Navy, is also alleged to have encouraged an assault on one younger prison officer: “Take him out one day for some beers, and while he is drunk beat the crap out of the mother******.”
Beaumont announced in January that, if re-elected, he would undertake a full governance review of World Rugby to include a test for fit and proper persons.
This month’s elections cover positions for the next four years. The World Rugby executive committee comprises 12 people: the chairman, vice-chairman (currently Pichot), chief executive Brett Gosper, seven elected members and two independent members.
But both Beaumont and Pichot, the current World Rugby vice-chairman, have already sat alongside Kean in meetings of the Council.
In a statement on Monday, World Rugby said: “World Rugby notes allegations in the UK ‘Sunday Times’ about Fiji Rugby Union Chairman Ratu Vilikesa Bulewa Francis Kean and takes them extremely seriously.
“Rugby is a sport built on strong and inclusive values and World Rugby does not in any way condone any abusive or discriminatory behaviour, as outlined within its bye-laws.
“World Rugby is currently in dialogue with the Fiji Rugby Union about the nature of the allegations and it would be inappropriate to further comment at this time.”


inews--2020-04-20--We may all be using Zoom, but we're still lacking the technology to make distanced society sustainab

We may all be using Zoom, but we're still lacking the technology to make distanced society sustainable

We may all be using Zoom , but we 're still lacking the technology to make distanced society sustainable While modern technology is amazing , it can not fully replace the ease of interaction in the same room A month into our existence as a remote , distanced society , we are all still learning this new way to live .
The impact of our dislocation on the spread of the virus is , hopefully , visible in slowing figures of new infections , patients in hospital and deaths .
Isolation is saving lives .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social effects are only starting to reveal themselves .
The anecdotally widespread occurrence of weird and vivid dreams , which I have experienced myself , seems to hint at the turmoil which the combination of peril and confinement inspires .
A noticeable uptick in conspiracy theories may be a further sign of the destabilising impact of removing the mental buttress of social contact .
Socially , we are still in the early days of this peculiar disjointing .
The first spurt of make-do-and-mend , dig-for-victory , look-I ’ m-learning-the-unicycle positivity persists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the edges .
While millions more people will work from home after this crisis than did before , the hope that digital communication could completely supplant face-to-face interaction has proved somewhat optimistic .
For tribal , social animals like humans , digital contact is simply not as smooth or as informative as interacting in-person .
When I debate in a TV studio , my fellow guests and I can pick up on the cues of body language and inflexion .
That isn ’ t possible when talking into a blank lens in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lounge .
The outcome is inevitably less flowing ( and that ’ s without errant toddlers barging into the room ) .
Anyone who has witnessed a group of people trying to sing “ Happy Birthday ” over Zoom can attest to the fact that while modern technology is amazing , it can not fully replace the ease of interaction in the same room .
Parliament will return as a video conference , but it will be impossible to replicate the waxing and waning mood of a real-life Commons , where the tide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech or an inflated ego can be deflated with a heckle .
Much of the economy simply can not be moved online .
Joe Wicks , a fitness influencer also known as The Body Coach , is the 'PE teacher for the nation ' ( Photo : The Body Coach/Getty ) Teachers are doing their best to fill the gap in children ’ s education with online lessons and instructive apps , but research by the Sutton Trust suggests that a sizeable number of children are not fully engaged by these media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing out .
We are lucky to live in an age in which even imperfect technology exists to mitigate the impact of troubled times .
The bedtime stories read by grandparents over FaceTime , the opportunity to curse Joe Wicks as he charitably pretends to be tired out so that we can have a breather , the virtual pub quizzes and lockdown memes will all help to get us through .
But the clearest lesson of a distanced society is that even these marvels can not fully substitute for the warming balm of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island and an avatar or a video feed still can not replace the joy of seeing people in the flesh .

A month into our existence as a remote, distanced society, we are all still learning this new way to live. The impact of our dislocation on the spread of the virus is, hopefully, visible in slowing figures of new infections, patients in hospital and deaths. Isolation is saving lives. At the same time, the wider psychological, medical, economic and social effects are only starting to reveal themselves.
The anecdotally widespread occurrence of weird and vivid dreams, which I have experienced myself, seems to hint at the turmoil which the combination of peril and confinement inspires. A noticeable uptick in conspiracy theories may be a further sign of the destabilising impact of removing the mental buttress of social contact. Socially, we are still in the early days of this peculiar disjointing. The first spurt of make-do-and-mend, dig-for-victory, look-I’m-learning-the-unicycle positivity persists, but might be fraying a little at the edges.
While millions more people will work from home after this crisis than did before, the hope that digital communication could completely supplant face-to-face interaction has proved somewhat optimistic.
For tribal, social animals like humans, digital contact is simply not as smooth or as informative as interacting in-person. When I debate in a TV studio, my fellow guests and I can pick up on the cues of body language and inflexion. That isn’t possible when talking into a blank lens in a cobbled-together studio in the corner of my lounge. The outcome is inevitably less flowing (and that’s without errant toddlers barging into the room).
Anyone who has witnessed a group of people trying to sing “Happy Birthday” over Zoom can attest to the fact that while modern technology is amazing, it cannot fully replace the ease of interaction in the same room. Parliament will return as a video conference, but it will be impossible to replicate the waxing and waning mood of a real-life Commons, where the tide of events can change with a heartfelt speech or an inflated ego can be deflated with a heckle. Much of the economy simply cannot be moved online.
The cost of lost months will cast a long shadow; we will emerge from this crisis somewhat threadbare, with a hefty bill to pay.
Teachers are doing their best to fill the gap in children’s education with online lessons and instructive apps, but research by the Sutton Trust suggests that a sizeable number of children are not fully engaged by these media, with the poorest at high risk of missing out.
We are lucky to live in an age in which even imperfect technology exists to mitigate the impact of troubled times. The bedtime stories read by grandparents over FaceTime, the opportunity to curse Joe Wicks as he charitably pretends to be tired out so that we can have a breather, the virtual pub quizzes and lockdown memes will all help to get us through. But the clearest lesson of a distanced society is that even these marvels cannot fully substitute for the warming balm of other people. No man is an island and an avatar or a video feed still cannot replace the joy of seeing people in the flesh.
Mark Wallace is chief executive of the political blog Conservative Home


inews--2020-04-20--Coronavirus: Government confirms details of £1.25bn support for UK start-ups

If companies do not pay back loans the taxpayer will get a stake in the business High-growth companies will be eligible for loans but the Government could take a stake in startups if the money is not repaid ( Photo : JP Yim/Getty ) A new support package for British start-ups could mean the Government takes a stake in some of the country ’ s fast-growing businesses .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the launch of a new £1.25bn scheme to protect rapidly growing and innovative companies from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The package includes a £500m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer cash loans of between £125,000 and £5m , with private investors at least matching the Government ’ s commitment .
When start-ups in receipt of the loan come to their next funding round , the Government ’ s backing will automatically be converted into equity if the loan has not been paid back .
The scheme stipulates that businesses must be UK-registered and have raised at least £250,000 from investors in the last five years .
Mr Sunak said that : “ Britain is a global leader when it comes to innovation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and development are one of our great economic strengths , and will help power our growth out of the coronavirus crisis .
“ This new , world-leading fund will mean they can access the capital they need at this difficult time , ensuring dynamic , fast-growing firms across all sectors will be able to continue to create new ideas and spread prosperity.
” The other £750m of support is targeted at research and development firms and will be available through Innovate UK ’ s grants and loans scheme .
The first payments will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman and LastMinute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman said : “ In time we should be able look back and see that government support at this critical juncture helped some of the early-stage companies of today turn into the job creators , tax-payers and technology leaders of our future.
” Gerard Grech , chief executive of Tech Nation , welcomed the measures .
“ How to target the money effectively should be the next priority , ” he said .
“ Start-ups and scale-ups vary in their financial structuring and their regional location .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just right , across the UK and also across the different models of investments ” .

A new support package for British start-ups could mean the Government takes a stake in some of the country’s fast-growing businesses.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the launch of a new £1.25bn scheme to protect rapidly growing and innovative companies from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maintaining Britain’s ‘global leader’ status
The package includes a £500m investment for high-growth companies, which will offer cash loans of between £125,000 and £5m, with private investors at least matching the Government’s commitment.
When start-ups in receipt of the loan come to their next funding round, the Government’s backing will automatically be converted into equity if the loan has not been paid back. The scheme stipulates that businesses must be UK-registered and have raised at least £250,000 from investors in the last five years.
Mr Sunak said that: “Britain is a global leader when it comes to innovation. Our start-ups and businesses driving research and development are one of our great economic strengths, and will help power our growth out of the coronavirus crisis.
“This new, world-leading fund will mean they can access the capital they need at this difficult time, ensuring dynamic, fast-growing firms across all sectors will be able to continue to create new ideas and spread prosperity.”
The start-up world reacts
The other £750m of support is targeted at research and development firms and will be available through Innovate UK’s grants and loans scheme. The first payments will be made in mid-May.
Prominent figures from the UK’s startup scene praised the Government intervention, with Deliveroo founder Will Shu calling it a “practical and thoughtful scheme”.
Founders Factory chairman and LastMinute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman said: “In time we should be able look back and see that government support at this critical juncture helped some of the early-stage companies of today turn into the job creators, tax-payers and technology leaders of our future.”
Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech Nation, welcomed the measures. “How to target the money effectively should be the next priority,” he said.
“Start-ups and scale-ups vary in their financial structuring and their regional location. It will be important to get the balance just right, across the UK and also across the different models of investments”.


inews--2020-04-20--Run For Heroes: How the NHS 'run 5km, donate £5, nominate 5 people' Instagram challenge works, and h

Run For Heroes: How the NHS 'run 5km, donate £5, nominate 5 people' Instagram challenge works, and how to donate

Run For Heroes : How the NHS 'run 5km , donate £5 , nominate 5 people ' Instagram challenge works , and how to donate As lockdown rules continue to keep people inside , more and more people are finding their entertainment on social media You might have seen the Run for Heroes campaign crop up on your Instagram story feed - but what exactly is the challenge ?
This is everything you need to know about it , and how you can get involved .
What is the Run for Heroes challenge ?
You don ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - you can kickstart your own chain of people by running 5k , donating £5 and tagging five of your own friends .
The Run for Heroes Instagram page reminds people to continue social distancing when going for a run .
Just tag the Run for Heroes Instagram account ( @ Run.For.Heroes ) when you post your own picture to be included in their posts .
You can donate to the Run for Heroes Virgin Money page here .
Simply click the ‘ donate ’ button and you ’ ll be taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of money you want to donate .
While the challenge states you should donate £5 , there ’ s nothing stopping you from donating more , if you want to .
You can donate by card or through PayPal , and you can leave a message on the Run for Heroes page as well if you want to .
You can also include your name , or you can remain anonymous .
How did the trend start ?
The campaign was first launched on Instagram on Saturday 28 March , and since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the globe take part - including celebrities such as Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw , former England footballer John Terry , singer Ellie Goulding , and Love Island star Laura Anderson .
How much money has Run for Heroes raised , and where is the money going ?
The initial target that the Run For Heroes campaign wanted to raise was £5,000 , and they managed to surpass that within four days .
Now their new target of £2 million has also been smashed .
The post goes on to explain that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS Charities Together to find out exactly what £2 million means to them .
“ Currently we know that this will be going towards well being packs , accomodation , volunteer expenses , mental health support and support isolated patients communicate with their friends and family , ” the post states .
One wrote , “ With over 26 million donated to the NHS Charities Together campaign , Richard Branson ’ s Virgin Money Giving have made nearly 1.3 million in ‘ platform ’ and ‘ processing ’ fees .
Maybe people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

As a result of increased social media attention, challenges and trends are getting bigger than ever before – but one social media trend gaining popularity encourages its participants to donate money to the NHS.
You might have seen the Run for Heroes campaign crop up on your Instagram story feed – but what exactly is the challenge? This is everything you need to know about it, and how you can get involved.
What is the Run for Heroes challenge?
The challenge is simple – participants are asked to run 5 kilometres (3.1 miles), donate £5 to the NHS, and nominate five more people to do the same.
Participants tend to post pictures of themselves to their Instagram story, showing that they’ve run the 5k and donated the £5, before tagging a further five people.
You don’t have to wait to be tagged to take part – you can kickstart your own chain of people by running 5k, donating £5 and tagging five of your own friends. The Run for Heroes Instagram page reminds people to continue social distancing when going for a run.
Just tag the Run for Heroes Instagram account (@Run.For.Heroes) when you post your own picture to be included in their posts. You can donate to the Run for Heroes Virgin Money page here.
Simply click the ‘donate’ button and you’ll be taken to a page where you can enter the amount of money you want to donate. While the challenge states you should donate £5, there’s nothing stopping you from donating more, if you want to.
You can donate by card or through PayPal, and you can leave a message on the Run for Heroes page as well if you want to. You can also include your name, or you can remain anonymous.
How did the trend start?
Run for Heroes was launched by Olivia Strong, a 27 year old woman from Edinburgh, in a bid to raise money to support NHS workers during the ongoing battle against Covid-19.
Olivia said, “Our NHS workers are working tirelessly to protect us in this nerve-wracking time. I wanted to celebrate their efforts and raise money to help them continue the fight to save lives.”
The campaign was first launched on Instagram on Saturday 28 March, and since then has seen over 50,000 people across the globe take part – including celebrities such as Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw, former England footballer John Terry, singer Ellie Goulding, and Love Island star Laura Anderson.
How much money has Run for Heroes raised, and where is the money going?
The initial target that the Run For Heroes campaign wanted to raise was £5,000, and they managed to surpass that within four days. Now their new target of £2 million has also been smashed.
In a video published on Wednesday 15 April to the official Run For Heroes Instagram account, it was revealed that the initiative has raised over £2 million for the NHS.
The caption for the video said, “YOU ARE ALL AMAZING. Collectively you’ve raised A MILLION in a day (casual) for the NHS workers and volunteers on the frontline of Covid-19.
“You’ve officially spread the word to over 400,000 runners globally and on top of that crashed the fundraising site on numerous occasions.”
The money will be donated to NHS Charities Together, an organisation that represents, supports and champions NHS charities.
The post goes on to explain that the Run For Heroes campaign is working with NHS Charities Together to find out exactly what £2 million means to them.
“Currently we know that this will be going towards well being packs, accomodation, volunteer expenses, mental health support and support isolated patients communicate with their friends and family,” the post states.
At the end of the post, it asks everyone to “continue running, donating and nominating”, with a new goal to raise £5 million.
There has been no official word on when the campaign might end.
Virgin Money controversy
The use of the Virgin Money Giving platform to raise money for NHS Charities Together has caused some controversy. Taking to Twitter, users made their opinion of the platform clear.
One wrote, “With over 26 million donated to the NHS Charities Together campaign, Richard Branson’s Virgin Money Giving have made nearly 1.3 million in ‘platform’ and ‘processing’ fees. Maybe people should think twice about how they donate.”
The tweet included a screenshot of the Virgin Money Giving FAQ page, explaining that “donations on Virgin Giving are subject to a 2 per cent platform fee, and a 2.5 per cent payment processing fee.”
It continues, “There are no monthly charges for charities, or any charges on Gift Aid, and now supporters can elect to cover the costs for the charity when donating.”
Another Twitter user wrote, “They take the equivalent of 90p every £20!!!! DO NOT donate to the NHS through Virgin Money Giving! Virgin sued the NHS for not being given an £83m contract! And haven’t paid on £2 billion worth of contracts from the NHS!”
As mentioned above, Richard Branson began legal action against the NHS in 2016. Virgin Care sued six Surrey clinical commissioning groups, NHS England and Surrey County Council, after Virgin Care lost out on an £82m contract to provide children’s health services across Surrey.
The NHS ended up settling the legal dispute for an undisclosed amount of money.


inews--2020-04-21--NFL mock draft 2020: Predictions for the top 5 first round picks

NFL mock draft 2020 : Predictions for the top 5 first round picks The draft has always been about talent and need so here are the college prospects we think will be selected first this year The 2020 NFL draft begins in the early hours of Friday morning .
Teams will be picking the top college prospects from the comfort of their own homes this year , due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Here , we look at how the top-five picks could pan out , with Lousiana State quarterback Joe Burrow almost certain to go to the Cincinnati Bengals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow is widely tipped for be drafted first by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL draft ( Getty Images ) There hasn ’ t been this much pre-draft hype about a quarterback since Andrew Luck went first in 2012 .
Burrow had arguably the greatest season in college football history in guiding LSU to the national title last season .
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young looks set to be picked early in the 2020 NFL Draft ( Getty Images ) Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah shows off his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Getty Images ) As it happens , the Lions lost their best coverman , Darius Slay , in free agency and the draft has always been about talent and need .
Okudah , therefore , is the perfect fit .
May well be the most purely talented defensive player in the draft and is from a winning program that could initiate a culture change at a once-proud franchise that has lost its way somewhat .
Great in coverage , great at getting to the quarterback .
A jack of all trades , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has all the skills but will injuries hamper his progress ?
( Getty Images ) It is almost impossible trying to find a weakness with Tagovailoa and has been slavishly coveted by Dolphins fans who have been searching for Dan Marino ’ s replacement for 30 years .

The 2020 NFL draft begins in the early hours of Friday morning. Teams will be picking the top college prospects from the comfort of their own homes this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here, we look at how the top five picks could pan out, with Lousiana State quarterback Joe Burrow almost certain to go to the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall selection.
Also don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to the NFL 2020 draft and the full list of picks for every round.
Pick 1: Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow
Position: QB
College: Lousiana State
There hasn’t been this much pre-draft hype about a quarterback since Andrew Luck went first in 2012. Burrow had arguably the greatest season in college football history in guiding LSU to the national title last season.
Exceptional at reading defenses and other-worldly accuracy means he should be NFL-ready from the get-go, which the Bengals desperately need.
Pick 2: Washington Redskins – Chase Young
Position: DE
College: Ohio State
Explosive pass-rusher off the line of scrimmage, Young relies on speed rather than power to get to the quarterback.
Adding him to a Washington defensive line already featuring Ryan Kerrigan, Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne would be downright scary for the rest of the NFC East.
Pick 3: Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah
Position: CB
College: Ohio State
Ohio State has been a defensive back factory lately and conventional wisdom says that Okudah is the best of the bunch.
As it happens, the Lions lost their best coverman, Darius Slay, in free agency and the draft has always been about talent and need. Okudah, therefore, is the perfect fit.
Pick 4: New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons
Position: LB
College: Clemson
May well be the most purely talented defensive player in the draft and is from a winning program that could initiate a culture change at a once-proud franchise that has lost its way somewhat.
Great in coverage, great at getting to the quarterback. A jack of all trades, and a master of all of them too.
Pick 5: Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa
Position: QB
College: Alabama
It is almost impossible trying to find a weakness with Tagovailoa and has been slavishly coveted by Dolphins fans who have been searching for Dan Marino’s replacement for 30 years.
So why isn’t he going first? Injuries. A hip injury ended his college career prematurely after significant ankle problems.
i’s guide to NFL Draft 2020


inews--2020-04-21--'I'm terrified of what the future holds - I have no income': The stories of the workers who can't ac

'I'm terrified of what the future holds - I have no income': The stories of the workers who can't access Government support

' I 'm terrified of what the future holds - I have no income ' : The stories of the workers who ca n't access Government support 'My dreams are shattered .
All the Government needs to do is change the scheme to allow me and all the others affected to access it' ' I will have to sell my car to pay for food' The Chancellor , Rishi Sunak , announced the job retention scheme - but many are concerned they are not eligible ( Photo : Screenshot/10 Downing Street ) ' I changed jobs to be there for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to last a few weeks' ' I just returned after breast cancer and I don ’ t need this extra stress' 'We don ’ t want to defraud the system , we just want to support our staff' ' I have had to dip into my Help to Buy ISA to afford to live' ‘ I ’ ve never claimed benefits and always paid tax' My dreams of moving to London are shattered ' I am using my army pension to pay wages' ' I was refused UC because of our wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncle , killed by the virus , and now having to fight for my rights '

Despite the official launch of the Government’s furlough scheme, a large number of workers are unable to access the money intended to support them.
In the course of reporting on the issue, i was contacted by dozens of people who have fallen through the cracks.
All having started new jobs too late to be eligible, their personal stories range from coming back to the workplace after cancer treatment to finding new jobs after previous employers went bust.
Facing a lockdown that may not be fully lifted for a long time to come, some of the workers fear having to borrow, sell their possessions or hunt for another job despite health fears.
Many of their stories were included in our initial report. A greater selection appears below, lightly edited for clarity and to avoid repetition.
‘I will have to sell my car to pay for food’
John Horne
“I left my old employer after 15 years when another company approached me for an opening role. The following week, the new business warned us that they would be closing on the 24th and operating on a skeleton staff only to support NHS with manufacture of face shields and ventilator parts.
“I contacted Citizens Advice who advised me to apply for Universal Credit. However, I was found to be ineligible for this as my partner was still working (furloughed). I also contacted my old employer, as did my local MP, but they refused to re-hire me to furlough me even though Government advice was for businesses to do that.
“I am essentially left without any form of income, with my partner’s furloughed pay being around 30 per cent of what we earned as a couple. I’m not sure what else we can do other than sell my car to pay off the loan, ask for a rent reduction and save money on food.”
‘I changed jobs to be there for my son, but now only have money to last a few weeks’
Suzanne Kennerley
“I started a new job on 2 March to be closer to home for my son. I had been driving two hours a day, leaving at 7am, and my 11-year-old hated that 45 minutes alone before leaving for the school bus.
“I have been on unpaid leave for three weeks. I have a lodger who has given notice and I cannot replace her during the lockdown so have now lost both my income streams. As my son is school age, with him being off school I cannot commit to temporary work to tide me over. I have applied for Universal Credit and council tax benefit, but won’t know until mid-May if I am successful.
“I asked my former employer four times to re-employ and furlough me as my MP advised but their legal advisors are advising against. I only have enough money to last me a few more weeks and am very worried about how I will live.”
‘I just returned after breast cancer and I don’t need this extra stress’
Michelle Lofts
“I started my new part time job on 10 March as an admin assistant for a flower cash and carry, and completed two weeks of work. I was really enjoying it and getting back some normality in my life as I’d spent the previous 18 months going through treatment and surgeries for breast cancer. Therefore Government guidance stating to go back to a previous employer doesn’t work for me.
“I’ve applied for Universal Credit, for which I have to wait four weeks to find out if I am eligible for it, but even if I am, I don’t hold out any hope of getting much help to cover my bills etc.
“My husband works for a fuel supply company so is classed as a key worker and is still having to work. Thankfully, we don’t have any children to worry about but due to my recent health issues, I could really do without this extra and unnecessary stress and anxiety.”
‘We don’t want to defraud the system, we just want to support our staff’
Kerry Mackinnon, Premises Manager of Rose Street Foundry, Inverness
“Following a £2.5m investment, we opened our new business in March, and we employed staff from 2 March for extensive training and to assist with set up. We opened the doors to our historically significant building (bar/restaurant) six days before the Government instructed us to close and have had to lay off 35 people because we are unable to furlough them. Absolutely heartbreaking. The stories I have heard from many of my staff in real dire straits regarding the lack of help is just awful.
“We are not looking to defraud any system but get the support our staff rightly deserve.
“We have so much evidence that these staff were employed within March but are powerless to support them.”
‘I have had to dip into my Help to Buy ISA to afford to live’
Christopher Wilton
“I have been out of a job since the start of the year, but to have been let down after two months of searching for a new job is incredibly frustrating. I have not been claiming benefits during this period as I had faith in myself and the economy that I would find the right role to meet my outgoings and more importantly to further my career.
“For the last five years I have been in full-time employment in London and I currently have a £1,000 outgoing every month just on accommodation. On a £40,000 per annum salary, this was just about comfortable after allowing for travel and other outgoings. If I was to receive Universal Credit it would not cover the accommodation, let alone other basic living expenses.
“Lastly, to meet this cashflow shortfall, I have had to delve into my Help to Buy ISA, something which has taken many years to save up and will certainly affect my ability to buy a house in the near future. This is extremely frustrating given that I have been putting away £200 every month for the last four years and due to the ISA rules on topping it up, will take a long time to get back to the level I was at before the virus.”
‘I’ve never claimed benefits and always paid tax’
Beth Hopkins
“I always worked. Even as a teenager I had Saturday jobs and paper rounds. I got my first main job in sales at age 19 and earned very good money for over 23 years, until I unexpectedly got made redundant in January. So over the years I have never claimed benefits and nearly always paid into the 40 per cent tax bracket.
“On my HMRC Gateway it clearly shows my continual work service and tax paid over the years, with no gaps. I am not eligible for Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance (as I am employed and want to keep this job) and I cannot be furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).
“Rishi Sunak one day said he wouldn’t leave anyone behind then backtracked to say he can’t save every job. He is discriminating against thousands of bonafide taxpayers who have been left with no help.”
My dreams of moving to London are shattered
Rachel Richards
“I am originally from South Wales, 23-years-old, graduated last year after four years studying hard, got a job in Preston straight away but really wanted to get job in London in marketing so kept looking and applying for jobs.
“After many interviews and trips to London I landed my dream job in February, had the contract and handed in my notice on 24 February, with a last day on 20 March, allowing myself a week to move to London to start new job on 30 March.
“Accommodation was lined up all set to go, then Covid-19 hits us. I have rent to pay, a car loan and other bills. I can’t move back home to my parents because my Dad is one of those that needs to be shielded because of a pre-existing condition, I am also at risk because I have asthma so can’t really go and work in a supermarket or other essential service jobs without risking my life.
“My dreams are shattered. All the Government needs to do is change the scheme to allow me and all the others affected to access it by providing evidence of our career moves, I have plenty and they are allowing TUPE’d workers to do this so why not job changers?”
‘I am using my army pension to pay wages’
Paul Snow
“I left the Armed Forces two years ago and struggled to assimilate into the civilian sector, finding it inefficient and, at times unethical, so I decided to invest my savings and pension in a hair and beauty salon with my wife and daughter. We employed one additional stylist and opened the doors on 2 March. Everything seemed to be running smoothly until the Government announced on 23 March that our business sector was one of the areas that had to cease trading.
“We had payroll registered and authenticated by HMRC prior to 28 February so we thought we would be able to weather the storm – then it hit us, we obviously hadn’t run payroll at the end of February, because we weren’t trading.
“I am currently paying staff 80 per cent of their wage, in accordance with the furlough scheme, from my pension, in the hope that the Government will see sense and change the qualifying criteria to include those that were actually in gainful employment when the lockdown was announced.
“While the CJRS is an amazing scheme that was thrown together at short notice, it leaves tens if not hundreds of thousands of employees with no income, with many still unable to claim UC.”
‘I was refused UC because of our wedding savings’
Laura
“I have no income coming in as I was also refused Universal Credit, because I live with my fiancé and our savings that we had painstakingly built up to go towards our wedding have been used to decide my eligibility. My fiancé luckily is still working at the moment from home. However, he is with an agency and is due to have his contract reviewed in three months. If for any reason his contract isn’t renewed, we will have absolutely no income whatsoever.
“I have paid taxes since I was 18. I cannot return to my employer as the environment was particularly toxic and I had to involve my trade union to get my correct final pay, so this advice to go back to your previous employer and plead with them to rehire and furlough you? I can’t.
“For myself and my fiance, I’m terrified what the future holds. I have no income. I have my own bills and loans to pay back. I worked so hard for my career and now it’s just gone and there’s nothing to guarantee that I will get it back. Everyone is in the same boat, they can’t guarantee their job is still waiting for them. The difference is they have this 80 per cent as a buffer and the opportunity to plan and save. I don’t even have that.”
‘I am grieving for my uncle, killed by the virus, and now having to fight for my rights’
Brendan
“In the middle of January my previous employer of six years went into administration. As you can imagine this was a shock to the system and very scary but I didn’t dwell on it and got on the hunt for a new career, attending recruitment appointments and going to four separate job interviews.
“Finally I landed a great job and after a fantastic interview received the offer officially on 24 February, accepting it that same day.
“Fast forward to today – in the last fortnight, the harsh reality of the virus has affected my family, and today I followed a funeral car with my dear uncle Trev on his last journey. He died of Covid-19 last week. At a time where I feel frightened and have first hand experience in losing someone to this pandemic, I find myself also forced into fighting for my rights to be included in the furlough scheme as a tax-paying, law-abiding citizen.
“But I will be forced to not stay home and not stay safe and try find another job, if that’s even possible. Our mortgage holiday won’t last forever.”