News

No more quarantine after travel from ‘amber’ countries for double-jabbed adults

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement in an address to MPs in the House of Commons this morning.

The Manc The Manc - 8th July 2021

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced today that Brits who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to travel to amber list countries with no quarantine requirements on return.

He made the announcement in an address to MPs in the House of Commons this morning.

The change – which is to come into force on the country’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July – will open up some of Europe’s top holiday destinations including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and more.

This means that the requirements for green and amber list countries are to be the same for “fully vaccinated travellers”.

Mr Shapps began his statement to MPs by saying he does not underestimate how difficult the past 18 months have been for people who have been unable to travel to see their families and for the aviation sector, but said that it’s thanks to the vaccination programme that the country is now in a position to look at returning life to a sense of normality.

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“I can confirm today from 19 July UK residents who are fully vaccinated through the UK vaccine rollout will no longer have to self-isolate when they return to England.” Mr Shapps confirmed.

While there will no longer be a requirement t take a test of day eight, Mr Shapps stated that fully-vaccinated travellers will still be required to take a pre-departure test three days before they travel, and a PCR test on or before day two.

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He said this applies up to 14 days after people have received their second jab.

Featured Image – Unsplash

News

Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hawksmoor issues statement after 'kicking out' Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.

In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.

The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.

Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”

The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”

After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.

The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.

He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.

Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.

“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.

“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.

“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.

Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.

The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.

Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.

Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.

He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.

Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.

Fundraiser launched to find missing 'beautiful soul' Adeo Alston
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP

“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.

“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.

“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”

A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.

“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”

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Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.

Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

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