Business

Business groups have reacted with dismay after Boris Johnson confirmed the end of lockdown restrictions would be delayed. It will mean some businesses such as pubs and restaurants still having to operate at limited capacity and others such as nightclubs remaining closed with the roadmap for reopening delayed from 21 June to 19 July. The

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is being urged to dig deep again and maintain taxpayer support for businesses if, as expected, Freedom Day is delayed due to rising coronavirus infection rates. PM Boris Johnson is tipped to confirm on Monday evening that the timing for an end to all COVID-19 restrictions will slip beyond the 21 June

Passenger numbers plummeted by 223 million last year, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, new figures show. Only around 74 million people travelled through UK airports in 2020 – less than a quarter of the 297 million from the year before, data from the Civil Aviation Authority reveals. The airport which saw the largest

Boris Johnson is expected to agree to the delay of lockdown easing in England and, according to a new poll, just over half of the UK public is backing the move. The lifting of the last remaining coronavirus restrictions had been planned for 21 June, so-called Freedom Day, under the government’s road map. But, due

Aer Lingus has announced a number of regional flights have been cancelled after one of its operators ceased trading. The Irish airline was forced to cancel several flights from Dublin and Belfast City airports to UK cities after Stobart Air collapsed on Friday night. Those who have booked flights are advised not to go to

Sir Richard Branson is in advanced talks about a multibillion dollar merger to take Virgin Orbit, his satellite launch company, on to the US public markets. Sky News can reveal that Virgin Orbit is close to finalising a deal to combine with NextGen Acquisition II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) set up by George

Britain’s economy grew by 2.3% in April as the high street and hospitality sector reopened, official figures show. That meant that GDP was a record 27.6% larger compared with the same month last year when the nation was in the grip of the first coronavirus lockdown. Chancellor Rishi Sunak hailed it as a “promising sign

The government should revoke a series of steel quotas on cheap imports despite warnings it will damage domestic producers, trade advisers have recommended. The recommendation, described as a “hammer blow” by industry bodies, was made by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), an arms-length body charged with protecting UK industry from unfair competition. It has advised

Morrisons has defended increased executive rewards as profits tumbled during the coronavirus crisis last year, following a massive investor revolt. Just over 70% of votes cast at the supermarket chain’s annual general meeting (AGM) rejected the remuneration report for its last financial year. In advance of the virtual meeting, Sky News reported that several investor

Transport operator Go-Ahead said more people are taking its buses and trains than at any time since the start of the pandemic as COVID restrictions ease. It said its regional bus network was seeing passenger numbers at 65-70% of typical levels on most days and at 80% in some regions – up from around 20%

The six English clubs which secretly agreed to play in a European Super League (ESL) are to pay a combined £22m penalty but face a much higher bill if such a breakaway is attempted in future, under a deal with the Premier League. The punishment was confirmed hours after a report by Sky News that

The six English clubs which secretly agreed to play in a European Super League (ESL) will pay just over £20m to draw a line under their ensuing row with the Premier League. Sky News has learnt that the figure – which equates to an average of around £3.5m per club – will be announced by

Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he will open his theatres on 21 June, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene. The composer has also warned he may have to sell his six West End venues if the government does not relax its restrictions as set out in its roadmap. The pandemic

Environment secretary George Eustice has described a ban on exporting sausages and processed meats from Great Britain to Northern Ireland agreed as part of the Brexit process as “nonsensical”. Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol a ban will come into force if the UK and EU cannot agree new regulatory standards to cover

A coalition of transatlantic airlines have demanded that President Biden and Boris Johnson lift “overly cautious” travel restrictions between the US and UK given the strength of the two countries’ coronavirus vaccine programmes. The companies, which include all the carriers offering passenger services between the nations and other industry players including Heathrow Airport, argued that

The former owner of Formula One motor racing is in talks about a $600m deal that could transform the face of global tennis by combining the organisers of the men’s and women’s tours under a single commercial entity. Sky News has learnt that CVC Capital Partners is in detailed negotiations about an investment in the