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Boris Johnson confirms lockdown will not end on June 21

The Prime Minister held a press conference on June 14 to confirm there would be a delay to ending COVID restrictions in England.

The Manc The Manc - 14th June 2021

England’s lockdown exit has officially been delayed – with Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirming that national COVID measures will remain in place for at least an extra four weeks beyond June 21.

The government has made the decision to defer the final roadmap step due to rising infections across the country – with the average number of daily coronavirus cases at their highest rates since March.

Reports on Monday (June 14) revealed the PM was poised to delay unlocking – which he confirmed at an evening press conference hosted alongside Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance.

The PM said the decision was made so the NHS had extra time to “give crucial jabs into the arms who need them.”

“I think it’s sensible to wait just a little longer,” he added.

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“Now is the time to ease off the accelerator. By being cautious now we have the chance to save lives.”

The new prospective date for England exiting lockdown is now July 19.

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Until then, capacity limits in venues from pubs and restaurants to stadiums will continue – whilst nighttime businesses must stay closed.

Weddings and wakes, however, can once again proceed with more than 30 people – provided social distancing is adhered to.

https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1404486659954122752?s=20

A one-month delay to lifting remaining lockdown measures would apparently allow another 10 million second vaccine doses to be administered across the UK and build up further immunity in the population – with all adults over the age of 25 now eligible for jabs.

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A more infectious ‘Delta’ variant has caused cases to rise sharply once again in Britain – with Greater Manchester suffering some of the highest rates so far.

An enhanced support package has since been rolled out across all ten boroughs in a bid to bring down infection rates.

Additional response teams, extra testing, military assistance and supervised in-school testing are all being introduced in the region.

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NHS set to make thousands of staff redundant after being given go-ahead

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Thousands of NHS staff are set to be made redundant after the £1 billion needed to fund them was approved by the Government.

The Government had already announced earlier this year its intention to cut the headcount across both NHS England and the Department of Health by around 18,000 administrative staff and managers, including on local health boards.

But before this was to happen, the HM Treasury had to approve the funds first.

National news outlets such as the BBC and Sky News are reporting that the Treasury has not granted additional funding, which is something that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is understood to have been pushing for.

But the NHS will, however, be permitted to overspend its budget this year to pay for redundancies – with the aim that it will recoup the costs further down the line.

The NHS is set to make thousands of staff redundant after being the given go-ahead by the Government / Credit: Pxhere

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been in Manchester this week at the NHS Providers’ Conference, where he addressed attendees to announce the redundancies move saying: “Headcount across my department and NHS England will be halved, returning to the size we had in 2010 when the NHS delivered the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in history.”

He also told delegates at the conference that there was ‘no money to waste’, given the state of public finances.

According to the Department of Health, the redundancies and overall reforms to NHS England will cut ‘unnecessary bureaucracy’ and raise £1 billion a year to improve services for patients.

It said that every £1 billion saved in bureaucracy costs is enough to fund an extra 116,000 hip and knee operations.

NHS Providers’ Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles has called the move a ‘pragmatic step’ that means planned redundancies can now go ahead.

“It reflects the flexibility of a three-year settlement, allowing some funding to be brought forward in order to generate future savings to go into frontline care,” he added in a statement this week.

“However, we must recognise the position of staff affected by these changes, who face a very uncertain future.”

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to make further announcements concerning the NHS in the upcoming Budget on 26 November.

Featured Image – rawpixel

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Robert De Niro pops up in Manchester to break ground on £360m Nobu skyscraper

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson CGIs of Nobu Manchester

Hollywood a-lister Robert De Niro was in Manchester yesterday, to break ground on the new 246 metre tall Nobu skyscraper.

The movie star is a co-founder of Nobu Hospitality, which has revealed plans for a £360m tower in the heart of Manchester.

When it’s complete, the skyscraper will be the tallest outside of London, and will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant as well a 160-room hotel and 452 residences.

At the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, Nobu Hospitality founders Robert De Niro, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper joined Salboy’s co-founders Fred Done and Simon Ismail.

The new tower is set to complete in 2031, once again transforming Manchester’s skyline with its tallest skyscraper to date that will dwarf the likes of Deansgate Square and Beetham Tower.

As well as first-class dining from one of the world’s best-known restaurant names, it’ll be bringing hundreds of new Nobu branded residences to town.

Yesterday, it was announced that the Nobu restaurant will be situated on the ground floor, among the site’s original Grade II-listed Victorian viaduct arches.

Nobu Hospitality co-founders including Robert De Niro broke ground on Nobu Manchester this week
Nobu Hospitality co-founders including Robert De Niro broke ground on Nobu Manchester this week

It’s hoped that the space will have a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial history to go with the modern cuisine.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987, later partnering with Robert De Niro and launching in New York in 1994.

Now, there are more than 50 restaurants worldwide.

As for the Nobu Residences, these will be 452 luxury home, some of which will be among the highest penthouses and apartments in Western Europe.

Residents in these Japanese-inspired homes will have access to premium amenities like an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden, and a gym.

Salboy and Nobu Hospitality will be collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley.

Nobu Manchester will be the city's tallest skyscraper when it completes. Credit: Supplied
Nobu Manchester will be the city’s tallest skyscraper when it completes. Credit: Supplied

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK – our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market.

“This landmark project – encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences – marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand.

“We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.”

Fred Done, co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that.

CGIs of the Nobu Manchester restaurant
CGIs of the Nobu Manchester restaurant

“I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best.

“This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.”

Simon Ismail, co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene.

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“As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for.

“Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour.

“Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.”

Enabling works are now underway, with intentions to start construction next year.

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Featured image: Supplied

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