News

21.09.2020 - Bank of England has called for the government to "stop and rethink" the furlough scheme.

The Governor of the Bank of England is calling for a review of the Job Retention Scheme, amid new coronavirus measures that could be in place for six months.

Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, told a British Chambers of Commerce webinar on Tuesday 22 September that the Government’s furlough scheme will need a rethink before it ends at the end of October.

There are fears unemployment could spike when the furlough scheme ends, as firms struggle to retain workers.

He said Chancellor Rishi Sunak faces a difficult decision over the scheme and hinted that it may need to become secto...

20.09.2020 - EU Settlement Scheme “still unknown to many migrants”

Many eastern European migrant workers don’t know that the EU Settlement Scheme exists, new research suggests.

A survey of EU citizens in Cambridgeshire by the Social Market Foundation think tank found that barely half were aware of the Settlement Scheme.

The report concludes that “the EU Settlement Scheme is still unknown to many migrants, and poorly understood by users”.

The findings come from interviews in early 2020 with 90 migrant workers in the Cambridgeshire fens. Most were Lithuanian, Romanian or Bulgarian. Almost all worked in jobs considered “lower-skilled”.

The Home Office is yet to ...

20.09.2020 - UK businesses voluntarily return £215m in furlough cash

UK firms have voluntarily returned more than £215m to the government in furlough scheme payments they did not need or took in error.

Data released by HM Revenue and Customs shows that 80,433 companies have sent back £215,756,121 as of 15 September, according to a Freedom of Information request sent by PA Media.

Some employers returned money sent to them, while others asked for smaller payments in subsequent rounds of funding.

A total of £35.4bn has been paid out as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).  HMRC officials believe £3.5bn may have been paid out in error or to fraudste...

15.09.2020 - Government extends support to stop business evictions this year

The government has extended support to prevent business evictions until the end of 2020, providing commercial tenants with greater security and protecting vital jobs.

These measures are on top of the wider ranging financial package provided by the UK government, backed by £160 billion, to protect jobs, incomes and business throughout and beyond this pandemic.

The government is clear that where businesses can pay their rent, they should do so, as this support is aimed to those businesses struggling the most during the pandemic.

This move will help those businesses most in need of additional sup...

14.09.2020 - Coronavirus and the UK immigration system (as of 15 September 2020)

General immigration policy rules

Some people who were in the UK when the pandemic hit were unable to leave before the expiry of their visa because of travel restrictions. The government had been extending people’s visas through a simplified online application process, but that concession is now pretty much at an end.

People requesting exceptional indemnity/assurance need to contact the coronavirus helpline to explain why they can’t leave by 31 October. The guidance emphasises that anyone whose leave expired before 31 August is too late to apply for exceptional assurance and “must make arrange...

10.09.2020 - Lockdown grants welcome but more support needed, say business groups

The government's announcement of new cash grants for businesses affected by local lockdowns has been welcomed by business groups, including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Businesses in England that are required to shut because of local interventions will now be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks.

However, both the CBI and the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) have warned that more targeted help is still required.

Payments are triggered by a national decision to close businesses...

10.09.2020 - New Immigration rules for students

The changes relate to students: what have so far been known as the Tier 4 (General) and Tier 4 (children) routes will now be Student Visa (for adult applicants) and Child Student Visa (for applicants aged below 16 years old).

In terms of timeline, the changes will take effect on 5 October 2020 at 09 am. Applicants made before then will be considered in line with the Rules in force at the time.

What is new for students?

  • Brexit did happen, and we are coming to the end of the transition period. This means that the rules will apply to EEA nationals. EEA nationals applying in-country will only...

08.09.2020 - The Government of the UK may break international law over Brexit negotiations

Boris Johnson has urged MPs to support a bill which modifies the Brexit deal he signed with the EU in January. The PM said that the Bill would ensure the integrity of the UK internal market and hand power to Scotland and Wales, as well as it would protect the Northern Ireland peace process.

Concerns had been raised about legislation being brought forward which could change parts of the withdrawal agreement, negotiated last year.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis conceded it would go against the treaty in a "specific and limited way". Senior Conservatives have warned it risks undermining...

07.09.2020 - Coronavirus: Up to £3.5bn furlough scheme claims may have been wrongly paid out

The government believes it may have paid out up to £3.5bn in wrong or fraudulent claims for the furlough scheme.

Jim Harra, the top civil servant at HM Revenue & Customs, said that his staff had calculated for the possibility that from 5% to 10% of the money might have gone to the wrong places.

The government has so far made £35.4bn in furlough payments, according to the latest figures. It means that somewhere between £1.75bn and £3.5bn could have been paid out wrongly.

Mr Harra said HMRC would not be seeking to root out employers who have made legitimate mistakes but will instead be focusing ...

06.09.2020 - New Brexit law will not ‘tear up’ EU trade plans

The government will introduce a new law that could change post-Brexit customs plans with the EU – but No 10 denied it would “tear up” the existing treaty.

The two sides agreed in 2019 on the terms of the UK’s exit, including on future trade in Northern Ireland.

Reports suggested a new law could “override” the legal force of that deal – the withdrawal agreement, but the government said it would only make “minor clarifications in extremely specific areas” and confirmed the new UK Internal Market Bill will be published on Wednesday.

The EU said the “full implementation” of the withdrawal agreemen...

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