Hire UK workers to drive lorries, minister tells firms
Emma Harrison & Doug Faulkner BBC News Getty Images Businesses have been told to prioritise hiring UK-based workers rather than relying on labour from abroad to fix a shortage of lorry drivers. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng rejected calls from firms to loosen immigration rules, saying it would be a “short-term temporary solution”. But Logistics UK […]
Debenhams calls in KPMG to assess future options
Bill Wilson Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Debenhams has brought in advisers from KPMG to assess a number of options to improve the fortunes of the department store chain. It is in the midst of a turnaround plan designed to cut costs and boost sales. Industry insiders say the firm and KPMG are looking […]
Lough Neagh patrol boat destroyed in arson attack
Amateur footage The new boat was set on fire just a few days after it arrived in Lough Neagh A new patrol boat, which was to help enforce fishing regulations on Lough Neagh, has been destroyed by arson. The police are believed to be studying CCTV footage showing two men wearing balaclavas setting fire to […]
British farmers shouldn’t get cheap EU labour
PA Britain’s farmers should no longer get “privileged” access to low-skilled, low-paid workers from the EU after Brexit, says a top government adviser. Alan Manning, who chairs the Migration Advisory Committee, said fruit and vegetable growers would probably “go backwards”. But it would not be the “end of the earth” for the UK economy as […]
What does the UK budget mean for Scotland?
Philip Sim BBC Scotland political reporter PA Media Rishi Sunak said his budget plans delivered for the whole of the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged a “new economy” while increasing UK government spending by £150bn. But what does his Autumn Budget mean for Scotland? While many of the decisions about tax and spending in […]
Bar workers lodge grievance over ‘health and safety failures’
Unite Hospitality Abandon Ship in Glasgow was picketed on Saturday night Almost 60 employees of a Scottish hospitality group have accused it of multiple health and safety failings at bars in Dundee and Glasgow. Staff say MacMerry 300 and Abandon Ship Ltd failed to inform them about potential close contacts with those testing positive for […]
Chief vet call after bird flu confirmed in County Monaghan
Louise Cullen BBC NI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent Getty Images The strain of bird flu (H5N1) is described as “highly pathogenic” Bird keepers have been urged to improve their biosecurity after avian influenza was confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in County Monaghan. The chief vet for Northern Ireland, Robert Huey, and Agriculture Minister Edwin […]
Wales’ pubs, restaurants fear ‘crippling’ rules
BBC Ashley Stephens and Porscha Hilton are concerned about customers staying away from the Unicorn in Pontypool Pubs and restaurants in Wales say they fear they could be “crippled” by new Covid rules brought in for the hospitality industry. Two metre social distancing is also back, along with mask wearing, table service rules and contact […]
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two
Reuters Reports suggest Gazans are finding scenes of total destruction as they head home Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor – a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern […]
Temperature rises over climate change
PA Ms Sturgeon insisted Scotland continues to be a world leader on climate change A few sums first. Nicola Sturgeon leads a minority government at Holyrood. To get her budget passed, she needs support from at least one more party. SNP plus Green adds up to that required level of support. So, of course, when […]