Asmiling portrait of the queen, surrounded by the royal coat of arms and her year of accession 1952 to the present year 2022 marks the Platinum Jubilee on the pieces…reports Asian Lite News
Britain’s Prince Charles led tributes to his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the 70-year anniversary of her accession to the throne on Sunday, saying it was an opportunity for the country to unite and celebrate her service to the nation.
Charles also thanked the queen for her statement on Saturday that she hoped the heir to the throne’s wife, Camilla, would become Queen Consort when he becomes king.
Prince Charles says the Queen’s “devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year”.
This photo, from 1956, shows the Queen walking through Windsor Great Park with Prince Charles to watch the Duke of Edinburgh play polo 🐎 pic.twitter.com/8rBtrUVdos
“We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish,” he said in a statement. “As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.
“The year of this unprecedented Platinum Jubilee brings an opportunity for us all to come together in celebrating the service of The Queen, by whose example we will continue to be led in the years to come.”
Typo on souvenir raises eyebrows
A spelling mistake on the souvenirs manufactured to mark Queen Elizabeth II‘s 70th year of accession to the British throne has grabbed attention. The error has been printed on thousands of commemorative tea sets, mugs and decorative plates, reported the BBC.
A smiling portrait of the queen, surrounded by the royal coat of arms and her year of accession 1952 to the present year 2022 marks the Platinum Jubilee on the pieces.
However, instead of “To Commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II” the plaque reads “To Commemorate the Platinum Jubbly of Queen Elizabeth II”.
The pieces were produced at a factory in Changzhou in China, as per The Sun report. Wholesale Clearance UK agreed to buy the pieces, which have been advertised as “Queens Platinum Jubliee (Jubbly) Souvenir Stock with Slight Typo Mistake”.
Karl Baxter, the Clearance website boss, was quoted as saying by the BBC that he will pitch them as collectors’ items “in classic Del Boy-style”. “What could be more unique than our limited-edition misprinted crockery?” he said.
The 10,800 items have been offered for 32,400 pounds instead of 323,892 pounds with a 90 per cent discount. Interestingly, the Wholesale Clearance UK website has brought a sitcom connection for the sale. “Become an Only Fools and Horses fan and wow your friends with your Lovely Jubbly set!” the website says.
The royal.uk website states that the queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. She took to the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of 25.
Charles has always been adamant his “darling wife” should receive the title, The Times reported citing a source, with a spokesperson for the couple saying Saturday they were “touched and honoured” by the news…reports Asian Lite News
Queen Elizabeth II has announced that she wants Camilla, the wife of her heir Prince Charles, to ultimately be known as Queen Consort, as she became the first British monarch to reign for seven decades Sunday.
The 95-year-old said she hoped her daughter-in-law will be known as Queen Consort when Charles accedes to the throne, in a remarkable journey to public acceptance for Camilla after being vilified for her role in the break-up of Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana.
Addressing the nation in a written statement on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Queen said that when Charles becomes monarch she hoped the British people would give him and Camilla “the same support that you have given me”.
Charles and Camilla, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, had a highly publicised relationship that ended their previous marriages and there had been doubts over whether the public would accept her.
They married in 2005, with a royal announcement that Camilla would become known as Princess Consort due to the sensitivity of the issue, but she gradually won plaudits as the future king’s loyal wife.
Charles has always been adamant his “darling wife” should receive the title, The Times reported citing a source, with a spokesperson for the couple saying Saturday they were “touched and honoured” by the news.
Tireless service
Britain’s Sunday newspapers swiftly put the story on their front pages.
“Camilla WILL become Queen,” wrote the Daily Mail, while The Sunday Times said “Queen anoints Queen Camilla”, saying the move ended “years of controversy and confusion over Camilla’s future title”.
The announcement came as Elizabeth II began her Platinum Jubilee in subdued fashion at Sandringham in eastern England, the 20,000-acre (8,100-hectare) estate near the north Norfolk coast which is close to her heart.
Four days of festivities are planned for early June, coinciding with the anniversary of her 1953 coronation, including a military parade and music concert, street parties, a nationwide “Big Jubilee Lunch” and a “Platinum Pudding Competition”.
On Monday, there will be ceremonial gun salutes in London’s Green Park, close to Buckingham Palace, and at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland — traditionally not held at weekends.
Britain’s longest-serving monarch acceded to the throne aged 25 on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father King George VI.
During her reign, she has remained a constant through periods of huge social and political upheaval — a living link to Britain’s post-war and imperial past.
In September 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria’s 63 years and seven months on the throne and, despite some health concerns over the past year, has appeared determined to continue her record-breaking reign.
Speaking in parliament this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday was “a moment of national celebration” while noting it was “a day of mixed emotions for Her Majesty”.
After husband Philip’s death in April last year, the Queen returned to public and official engagements, including hosting world leaders at the G7 summit.
She was forced to slow down on advice from doctors, however, after an overnight hospital stay in October sparked public concern.
Since then, she has largely stayed at Windsor Castle and made few public appearances.
But on Saturday, the Queen held a reception for locals at Sandringham, reportedly her largest in-person public engagement since the autumn health scare.
Vote of Thanks by Sushil Rapatwar and Ragasudha Vinjamuri
Padma Shri awardee Bob Blackman MP and Baroness Verma, Chair for UN Women UK were Guests of Honour, reports Asian Lite News
The Republic Day of India celebrations were organised recently by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence in association with the Nehru Centre (ICCR, London), High Commission of India, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Named Sanskruti Darshayaami, the event was held at The Bhavan with a stage tableau representing dance forms of different regions of India and music presentations.
Hosted by Ravi Sharma of Lyca Media and Chinmayee, the program consisted of some of the rarely seen folk art forms of India. After rendering of the national anthem by all, followed by a brief roundup of celebrations in Delhi, video messages by H.E. High Commissioner of India Mrs. Gaitri Issar Kumar, President of ICCR Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Minister (Culture) and Director of the Nehru Centre Amish Tripathi were played.
Nyishi dance, Arunachal Pradesh
Tributes to the freedom fighters were paid through a presentation on Andaman and Cellular Jail by Sushil Rapatwar. Video message by Ranjit Savarkar, grandnephew of Veer Savarkar was played as a prelude. Best wishes by honorable Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Shri Pema Khandu were printed in the booklet “Gamanam” released on the occasion and disseminated to all.
Padma Shri awardee Bob Blackman MP and Baroness Verma, Chair for UN Women UK were Guests of Honour. While Bob spoke on trade & economy and hailed the diaspora for the contributions to public service and private industry as the living bridge between the UK and India, Baroness Verma reiterated how important it is to remember the sacrifices made by the ancestors for attaining Independence. She hailed Sanskruti Centre and other organisations engaged in teaching cultural aspects and concluded with “We don’t know where we are going to if we don’t know where we came from”.
Dance of Rabhas, Assam
In his speech, Dr. Nandakumara ardently remembered Kanhaiyalal M Munshiji, founder of The Bhavan and an important person in the making of the Constitution of India and expressed his happiness for the Republic Day of India celebrations taking place at The Bhavan fittingly. He emphasised the importance of Vidya and Kala.
The fully packed hall of audiences enjoyed the rich cultural tapestry showcased on the stage. They included dances from Assam (Rabha), Arunachal Pradesh (Nyishi), Chhattisgarh (Gabar), Karnataka (Kamsale and Kolata), Kerala (Thiruvathira), Ladakh (Shondol), Odisha (Odissi), Rajasthan (Kalbelia), Telangana (Mathuri), Uttar Pradesh (Kajari) and West Bengal (Rabindra Nritya). Bhojpuri song was presented by Sangeeta Prasad from Birmingham. Shiva- The Indian Youth Choir of England, artistically led by Rakesh Joshi from Manchester and accompanied by Tabla by Rakesh Jugal, fittingly concluded the cultural program with shlokas and songs. Singers in this amazing choir were the young & talented Saanvi Akula, Tanvi Sharma, Jyothi Pallavaram, Prerna Thakkar, Ved Vyas, Ambika Sharma, Shruthi Ranjani Murli, Aadhyasree Praveen, Veer Thakkar, Mithra Pallavaram.
Gabar dance, Chhattisgarh
Rabha dance was presented by Shouri Kokkonda & Sravanthi Tadakamalla, Nyishi dance was presented by Pinky Talegaonkar, Jahnavi Chitte and Harshada Bandreddi, Gabar dance was presented by Vishakha Tokikar and Mona Jethwa Patel, Kamsale/Kolata was presented by Harsha Srinivas, Hamsa Rajashekar, Akshata Bhat, Vyshali Gowda, Ramaa Rao, Sujatha Byrappa, Sriranjani Simha, Pratima Gowda, Sindhu Harsha, Rekha Kandikere, Rashmi Hegde and Neeti Prasad, Shondol dance was presented by Santhi Aripirala, Suvarchala Madireddy, & Swarnalata Pasupuleti, Thiruvatira was presented by Manju Sunil, Deepa S Nair, Maya Joseph, Ancy Joe, Lakshmi Aveen and Lakshmi Vineeth, Odissi was presented Pritha Dasmahapatra, Kalbelia was presented by Dr Piyali Basu, Prerita Basu, Siya Malik, Reva Mehta and Varshita Vanka, Mathuri dance was presented by Vanamala Accha, Ananya & Anuja Tirumalasetti, Kajari was presented by Priya Amit Kumar’s Vishwam Dance Academy, by Vaishali Srivastava Nagpal, Karishma Dalal, Tanisha Atri, Rakshika Chaudhary, Sharda Chaudhri, Akanksha Sinha, & Neetu Singh, and Rabindra Nritya is presented by Ankita Pal, Sanchita Bhattacharya, Sreyashi Deb Roy and Radhika Ghosh.
Vote of Thanks was presented by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, who has also conceptualised the program.
Baroness Verma speaking at Sanskruti DarshayaamiPresentation on AndamanBob Blackman MP speaking at Sanskruti DarshayaamiHost Ravi Sharma at Sanskruti DarshayaamiShondol dance, LadakhKamsale and Kolata dances, KarnatakaTiruvathira dance, KeralaDr Nandakumara speaking at Sanskruti Darshayaami Kalbelia dance, RajasthanMathuri dance, TelanganaShiva, Indian Youth Choir of EnglandBhojpuri song, BiharOdissi dance, OdishaChinmayee TK at Sanskruti DarshayaamiKajari dance, Uttar PradeshRabindra Nritya presenters
ICICI Bank India has a portfolio of pre-approved properties, accessible online on www.home.icicibank.com that makes the selection process easy and efficient
ICICI Bank UK PLC is now facilitating home loans in India through its parent, ICICI Bank Ltd India (ICICI Bank), for NRI (Non Resident Indians)/Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) based in the United Kingdom (UK).
With ICICI Bank’s India home loans, NRIs/OCI/PIO living in the UK can avail home loan to buy properties in India (residential as well as commercial) without travelling to India.
ICICI Bank India has a portfolio of pre-approved properties, accessible online on www.home.icicibank.com that makes the selection process easy and efficient. ICICI Bank UK PLC has a dedicated team based in the UK to assist homebuyers who are looking to avail a home loan in India. Customers can also transfer their existing loan from other lenders to ICICI Bank or avail a loan against their existing property.
ICICI Bank has also enabled its online platform for salaried customers (applicable to NRIs) to avail a provisional sanction letter digitally, in just a few clicks. The online platform provides customers an opportunity to avail competitive interest rates and discounted processing fees.
Currently, ICICI Bank’s interest rates in India are competitive and developers too are offering lucrative deals and schemes on properties.
The currency conversion between a Pound Sterling and Indian Rupee is at present much better for a Rupee buyer as against a year ago, which further weighs in favour of buyers living in the UK.
All of these factors make it a great time for NRIs to purchase their dream home or expand their real estate portfolio in India.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the city stands ready to help more Afghan refugees … report LDD News. More than 3,000 evacuees have been temporarily accommodated in bridging hotels in London, and London local authorities have already pledged to resettle more than 200 families in long-term accommodation
London offers more help to Afghan refugees fleeing the atrocities of Taliban regime. Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes Bernard, will bring together leading charity, faith and voluntary organisations to ensure a warm welcome and continued support is in place for Afghan refugees arriving in the capital.
City Hall will host a roundtable to recognise the work of frontline organisations in responding to the emergency and to mark the recent opening of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which could see significant additional numbers of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and settling in the UK.
The scheme will resettle women, children and others deemed most at risk, including ethnic and religious minorities, and those identifying as LGBTQ+. It will prioritise those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
This event will mark City Hall’s transition from emergency response into ongoing, longer term support, and will provide a forum to assess the needs of London’s Afghan communities, including those seeking asylum and without secure immigration status.
The London Refugee Response Fund has raised more than £50,000 and will be used to ease the immediate short-term pressures on Afghan-led refugee community organisations.
City Hall has also published guidance for Adult Education providers to support Afghan refugees and their immediate family members to access skills and employment training, including English language (ESOL) provision, as soon as they are able.
The Mayor is also taking action to champion the Community Sponsorship Scheme, which provides a way for Londoners to be directly involved in refugee resettlement. Londoners have demonstrated their willingness to provide support for those seeking sanctuary in their response to the Afghan crisis, and through Community Sponsorship, Londoners can be directly involved in helping refugees settle in the UK and rebuild their lives. To date, 32 groups in London have welcomed 34 families, a total of 163 refugees.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “We are proud to continue the tradition in London of providing asylum to those in need. The response from Londoners so far has been incredible and I want to thank our charities, voluntary organisations and councils, who are doing all they can to help Afghan refugees settle into our city.
“There is still much more that we can do as a city, and I encourage Londoners to look at the Community Sponsorship Scheme, which provides a way for people to help provide a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”
Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes Bernard, said: “We know that many people went through traumatic experiences fleeing Afghanistan; they have demonstrated incredible resilience and fortitude and it is now our responsibility to welcome them, and demonstrate that London truly stands as a beacon of openness, diversity, and equality.
“I would like to offer thanks and gratitude to the civil society organisations and local authorities who have been working tirelessly to respond to the emergency. I will continue to stand up for the rights of new arrivals seeking sanctuary in our city, including those seeking asylum, and will champion safe routes to enable people to rebuild their lives in London.”
Executive Director for Citizens UK, Matthew Bolton, said: “Last summer, watching families flee Afghanistan was a painful reminder of the challenges millions of refugees are facing in finding safety, but we’re not helpless to support the people most at risk. Through being part of a local community sponsorship group, I’ve seen first-hand how much hope and energy a community can find through the process of welcoming families, not just for those they welcome, but for the volunteers too. We’re so pleased that the power and success of community sponsorship can now be extended to support families from Afghanistan and urge anyone interested in starting or joining a group to get in touch through our Sponsor Refugees website.”
Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi, Founder and Director of the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, said: “The Afghanistan & Central Asian Association has been working tirelessly to support Afghans in the UK pleading for assistance with bringing families targeted by Taliban over to the UK. We are a grassroots charity with more than two decades of experience running services for our target community. We look forward to working closely with City Hall, national Government and Local Authorities to support the integration and resettlement of Afghan refugees to ensure they receive the right level of support on a grassroots and culturally tailored way.”
'It feels like they are being forced slowly but inevitably towards starvation'
With 3.9 million children at risk of severe malnutrition in Afghanistan, @johnrayitv meets just a few of those facing desperate poverty, hunger and misery
To date, more than 3,000 evacuees have been temporarily accommodated in bridging hotels in London, and London local authorities have already pledged to resettle more than 200 families in long-term accommodation. The Mayor has already taken a number of steps to help support Afghan refugees rebuild their lives as they resettle in the capital. This includes: Through the Mayor’s Right to Buy-back fund, which provides boroughs with the funds to purchase homes from the open market to provide suitable accommodation quickly. The borough of Islington has brought 80 homes back into council ownership, with 20 family-sized homes earmarked for Afghan families.
If questioned, Johnson would be only the second sitting British primeminister to be quizzed as part of a formal police probe, reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday vowed to cooperate with police in any formal probe into coronavirus lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street, which has deepened the threat to his position.
“I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will give the public the clarity it needs and help draw a line under the matter,” he told parliament.
Allegations that a string of parties were held at Downing Street while the rest of the country abided by the rules have shaken Johnson’s government, prompting the worst crisis of his premiership and calls for him to quit.
London’s Metropolitan Police have faced widespread criticism for refusing to investigate a steady drip of allegations over the last two years.
But Met commissioner Cressida Dick confirmed to the London Assembly that had now changed, raising the prospect of formal interviews and potentially criminal sanctions.
But she told the local authority: “The fact that we are now investigating does not of course mean that fixed penalty notices (fines) will necessarily be issued in every instance to every person involved.”
If questioned, Johnson would be only the second sitting British prime minister to be quizzed as part of a formal police probe.
Labour prime minister Tony Blair was interviewed as a witness in a police investigation into “cash for honours” allegations. Police announced in 2007 that no charges would be brought.
A senior civil servant, Sue Gray, has already begun conducting an investigation into the “partygate” claims and is expected to publish her conclusions in the coming days.
Johnson’s spokesman said her fact-finding work not related to the police investigation would continue.
“They (Gray and her team) won’t publish anything that relates to the work of the police,” he said, adding that Johnson “does not” think he broke the law during lockdown.
Internal probe
Gray’s investigation is understood to include claims revealed on Monday night that Johnson broke lockdown rules by having a birthday party at Downing Street on June 19, 2020.
Up to 30 people were present, ITV News alleged. At the time, social gatherings were only permitted between six people outside.
Johnson — Britain’s populist Brexit architect — has faced public outrage and charges of hypocrisy over the parties, given that millions of people abided by the rules he set.
Many highlighted how they missed significant birthdays themselves due to social distancing, and were unable to comfort sick and dying loved ones struck down with Covid.
A tweet from Johnson re-emerged from March 2020 in which he told a seven-year-old girl she was setting a “great example to us all” after she cancelled her birthday party.
London’s Labour party mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the police investigation.
“Members of the public must be able to expect the highest standards from everyone, including the prime minister and those around him,” he added.
“No one is above the law. There cannot be one rule for the government and another for everyone else.”
Public confidence
Dick declined to give a timeframe for the investigation or say whether the Met would be taking witness statements from police stationed at Downing Street.
She also refused to say whether police would be examining security camera footage from Downing Street, where Johnson has both an office and a residence.
Supporters of Johnson in his Conservative party have played down the latest revelations and the threat to his position, just over two years after a landslide election win.
Instead, they point to his success in securing Britain’s exit from the European Union, and his work on securing vaccines to combat Covid-19.
But Jonathan Evans, the head of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said recent government corruption and cronyism claims had the potential to undermine public trust.
He warned there could be a “political price to pay” if ministers and public servants ignored people’s expectations of behaviour.
The latest claim comes as the prime minister fights for survival amid a growing scandal over lockdown parties at Downing Street attended by him and his staff, currently the subject of an investigation by a senior civil servant, reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke lockdown rules by having a birthday party with up to 30 people present at Downing Street in 2020, a British television channel alleged Monday.
The latest claim comes as the prime minister fights for survival amid a growing scandal over lockdown parties at Downing Street attended by him and his staff, currently the subject of an investigation by a senior civil servant.
ITV reported that Johnson’s then-fiance Carrie Symonds, who has since become the PM’s wife, organised a surprise party for his 56th birthday on June 19, 2020 with up to 30 staff attending.
Under the rules in force at the time, social gatherings were only permitted between 6 people outside.
Johnson had recently urged the public to “show restraint and respect the rules”.
The ITV report said it understood that those present in the Cabinet Room, a meeting room at 10 Downing Street, included an interior designer who was working on the prime minister’s flat but was not a member of his staff, Lulu Lytle.
It alleged that Symonds and Lytle presented Johnson with a cake and his staff sang happy birthday at a party lasting around half an hour.
Downing Street said that staff gathered briefly after a meeting and Johnson attended for less than 10 minutes.
It denied as “totally untrue” a second allegation that the prime minister held a separate party that evening with family friends, saying he met a small number of family members outside.
Critics have accused Johnson of lying to parliament about what he knew and when, with regard to boozy parties held in Downing Street in apparent breach of his own government’s Covid rules over the past two years.
Johnson’s former closest aide, Dominic Cummings, warned on his blog on Monday that “other damaging stories will come out until he (Johnson) is gone”.
The prime minister faces a “no confidence” vote if at least 54 MPs from his party submit letters calling for this.
“The prime minister is a national distraction,” opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer told Sky News in response to the latest allegation.
“In the national interest, he’s just got to go.”
Differences within party
The two senior cabinet ministers of Indian origin in the British government – Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel – do not appear to be on the same page as far as support to Prime Minister Boris Johnson is concerned. Sunak’s endorsement of his boss is seen by British media as “tepid”, as compared Patels wholesome loyalty to the incumbent of 10 Downing Street.
The Independent reported: “Cabinet divisions the Downing Street party scandal have widened as Priti Patel appeared to criticise Rishi Sunak for declining to back the Prime Minister fully.” She was seemingly referring to Sunak’s absence from “Prime Minister’s Questions” slot in the House of Commons at which Johnson tendered a grovelling apology and was pilloried by the Leader of Opposition Sir Keir Starmer.
Sunak was, in fact, on a visit to Devon, some 225 miles away from London, and only tweeted a message eight hours after the event. His carefully worded message said: “The PM was right to apologise and I support his request for patience while Sue Gray carries out her enquiry.”
Gray is a senior civil servant, who has been entrusted with the onerous and unenviable task of investigating into 17 odd parties reportedly held at Downing Street during Covid lockdowns. Her brief is to find out if these were social gatherings and, so, broke the law. Johnson’s prime ministership is said to hinge on her discovery, although, technically, whether he violated the ministerial code by having knowledge of or attending non-work get-togethers, may not be her remit. There is separately the more serious issue of Johnson misleading Parliament, which is reason for a resignation. Gray’s report is expected next week.
Asked on Sky News if she agreed with Sunak’s “lukewarm support” for Johnson’s apology in the Commons, Patel replied: “No! On the contrary, I have publicly supported the Prime Minister and actually you’re speaking to the Home Secretary who spends all my time day in day out supporting the Prime Minister, his agenda of delivering on the people’s priorities and the work that we do.”
Johnson is in trouble on various fronts, from accepting a donation from a businessman to refurbish his official residence – a significant part of which he allegedly failed to declare, as is mandatory under ministerial and MPs’ codes in the United Kingdom – and about he and his office serially violating Covid-19 lockdown laws introduced by his government and ratified by Parliament since 2020.
Rather notoriously, there was a garden party at Downing Street on May 20, 2020 during the height of restrictions on the public, where 100 people were invited and asked to “bring you own bottle” or “BYOB”. The invitation went out from Johnson’s Principal Private Secretary and was attended by the Prime Minister and his wife Carrie. His explanation that he thought it was a work meeting and didn’t know it the assembly contravened the existing law has been rejected by an overwhelming section of Britons in opinion polls.
Tourism plays a vital part in London’s social and economic life – it supports as many as one in seven jobs in the capital and contributes almost 12 per cent of London’s GDP. London is the third biggest driver for people visiting the UK and accounted for 53 per cent of the UK’s international visits in 2019. London visitors go on to spend over £640 million in local economies outside of the capital and prior to the pandemic 15 per cent of overseas visitors to London came as part of wider trip to the UK
Tourism in London may not return to pre-pandemic levels until the middle of the decade, according to new analysis published by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
It is estimated that it could take until at least 2025 for domestic and international visitor overnight numbers to return to the levels seen in 2019, with spend predicted to take until 2026 to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
Last year, the number of overnight stays made by tourists to the capital more than halved to 60.8 million with a spend of £3.8 billion, compared to 147.4 million overnight visits and spending of £18.8 billion in 2019.
Sadiq has urged the Government to come forward with a comprehensive package of measures which provide full business rates relief, extension of the VAT relief scheme, and a substantial increase in direct grant funding to support hospitality, night time and cultural venues who were counting on a rise in income over the Christmas period to help see them through the lean winter months.
Further data from across the industry highlight just how devastating the spread of the Omicron variant was on Christmas trade: UK Hospitality say that food and drink sales across London were down significantly in the weeks before Christmas with up to a 65 per cent decrease on 2019 in late December.
Data from the New West End Company revealed footfall in the West End was down 33 per cent in December 2021 compared with December 2019, and in the first week of 2022 footfall was down 55 per cent compared with 2019. Footfall dropped significantly during the morning commute hours following the Government introducing Plan B restrictions on 8th December 2021.
Night Time Industries Association found that, on average, night time economy venues in the capital including pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and other venues, each lost on average £46,000 due to cancellations and lost sales during the festive period. More than half of all businesses required to introduce Covid Certification for entry to their premises reported a drop in footfall of more than 40 per cent.3
Figures from the Society of London Theatre show that attendances fell dramatically in the second half of the month, down 63 percent with revenue down 60 per cent compared to 2019. The first weeks of 2022 have seen performance numbers slowly rise.4
Tourism plays a vital part in London’s social and economic life – it supports as many as one in seven jobs in the capital and contributes almost 12 per cent of London’s GDP. London is the third biggest driver for people visiting the UK and accounted for 53 per cent of the UK’s international visits in 2019. London visitors go on to spend over £640 million in local economies outside of the capital and prior to the pandemic 15 per cent of overseas visitors to London came as part of wider trip to the UK.
The Mayor is helping hundreds of small companies through the Pay It Forward London crowdfunding platform, through which Londoners can support their favourite local and independent businesses struggling with the challenges of Covid-19. Through his Back to Business Fund he is match-funding £1.2 million of the £2.5 million raised overall through the schemes.
Since the start of the pandemic, his London Business Hub’s Covid-19 Recovery Grants have provided more than £1.4m of direct grants to help almost 1,500 firms adapt their business in response to the pandemic. A further £2.3 million was allocated to his Culture at Risk Business Support Fund to help some of London’s most imperilled creative and night time businesses, such as independent cinemas and music venues.
The Mayor is doing all that he can to support London’s businesses and venues that rely on tourism. Last year, his Let’s Do London domestic tourism campaign brought in an additional £70 million in spending and 280,000 visitors to the capital. Prior to the onset of the Omicron variant and the Covid threat level increasing, Let’s Do London helped drive an increase of 33 per cent in weekday daytime footfall and an increase of 43 per cent in weekend evening footfall between May to November. As part of his plans to encourage international visitors back into London, Sadiq, London & Partners and the wider tourism industry will launch an international tourism campaign in Spring 2022.
However, today’s figures demonstrate that the measures and grants announced so far by Government are only a sticking-plaster solution. The support package for those most affected by Omicron recently announced by the Chancellor equates to just £6,000 per business and does not go nearly far enough towards providing the level of support London’s world-renowned retail, hospitality, nightlife and cultural sectors need. For example, closing a West End show for a week can cost over £250,000 and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) found an average loss in takings of £46,000 per venue in the run-up to Christmas. In addition to this, there has been no support announced for freelancers and gig economy workers, who continue to suffer a major loss of income.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel — do not appear to be on the same page as far as support to Prime Minister Boris Johnson is concerned, reports Ashis Ray
The two senior cabinet ministers of Indian origin in the British government— Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel — do not appear to be on the same page as far as support to Prime Minister Boris Johnson is concerned. Sunak’s endorsement of his boss is seen by British media as “tepid”, as compared Patels wholesome loyalty to the incumbent of 10 Downing Street.
The Independent reported: “Cabinet divisions the Downing Street party scandal have widened as Priti Patel appeared to criticise Rishi Sunak for declining to back the Prime Minister fully.” She was seemingly referring to Sunak’s absence from “Prime Minister’s Questions” slot in the House of Commons at which Johnson tendered a grovelling apology and was pilloried by the Leader of Opposition Sir Keir Starmer.
Sunak was, in fact, on a visit to Devon, some 225 miles away from London, and only tweeted a message eight hours after the event. His carefully worded message said: “The PM was right to apologise and I support his request for patience while Sue Gray carries out her enquiry.”
Gray is a senior civil servant, who has been entrusted with the onerous and unenviable task of investigating into 17 odd parties reportedly held at Downing Street during Covid lockdowns. Her brief is to find out if these were social gatherings and, so, broke the law. Johnson’s prime ministership is said to hinge on her discovery, although, technically, whether he violated the ministerial code by having knowledge of or attending non-work get-togethers, may not be her remit. There is separately the more serious issue of Johnson misleading Parliament, which is reason for a resignation. Gray’s report is expected next week.
Asked on Sky News if she agreed with Sunak’s “lukewarm support” for Johnson’s apology in the Commons, Patel replied: “No! On the contrary, I have publicly supported the Prime Minister and actually you’re speaking to the Home Secretary who spends all my time day in day out supporting the Prime Minister, his agenda of delivering on the people’s priorities and the work that we do.”
Big trouble for PM
Johnson is in trouble on various fronts, from accepting a donation from a businessman to refurbish his official residence – a significant part of which he allegedly failed to declare, as is mandatory under ministerial and MPs’ codes in the United Kingdom – and about he and his office serially violating Covid-19 lockdown laws introduced by his government and ratified by Parliament since 2020.
Rather notoriously, there was a garden party at Downing Street on May 20, 2020 during the height of restrictions on the public, where 100 people were invited and asked to “bring you own bottle” or “BYOB”. The invitation went out from Johnson’s Principal Private Secretary and was attended by the Prime Minister and his wife Carrie. His explanation that he thought it was a work meeting and didn’t know it the assembly contravened the existing law has been rejected by an overwhelming section of Britons in opinion polls.
Furthermore, the night before the British monarch Queen Elizabeth’s late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year – when Britain was in official mourning as well as in Covid lockdown – there was a party in the basement of Downing Street, with drinking and dancing to disco music conducted by a DJ. The alcohol for the binge was smuggled into the building in a suitcase.
Sunak and Patel’s political standings at present are quite different. The former who entered parliament five years after the latter did, has sped past her and is the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Johnson in case he steps down. Sunak’s performance as Chancellor in saving livelihoods with generous grants and furloughs during the Covid crisis has endeared him to his party and the British public.
Patel, on the other hand, has from all accounts struggled at the Home Office. She was also indicted for violating the ministerial code with “bullying” behaviour towards civil servants. But Johnson did not dismiss her as has been the convention. The senior-most civil servant in her ministry resigned and had to be paid heavy compensation by the treasury to withdraw a suit he had filed at a tribunal.
A leadership contest in Johnson’s ruling Conservative party is triggered by 15 per cent of its MPs asking for it. This works out to 54 lawmakers. Senior Conservative MP David Davies shocked the Commons on Wednesday by telling Johnson to his face: “In the name of God, go!”
Govt accused of ‘blackmail’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday dismissed new allegations that his aides had tried to “blackmail” and threaten Conservative rebels, in a potentially criminal twist to Downing Street’s “partygate” scandal.
Senior Tory William Wragg disclosed the alleged intimidation campaign as Downing Street battles to shore up Johnson against calls from within the party for his resignation.
“The intimidation of a member of parliament is a serious matter. Reports of which I am aware would seem to constitute blackmail,” said Wragg, one of seven Tory MPs who have publicly called for a party confidence vote.
Addressing MPs, Wragg said any affected members should report it to the police and to the Speaker’s office in the House of Commons.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, addressing the chamber in sombre tones, said any such campaign would amount to “contempt” of parliament, which is a criminal offence.
Scotland’s First Minister First Minister Nicola Sturgeon alleged the charge amounted to “corruption”, and accused Johnson of “tarnishing the office of prime minister”.
But Johnson told reporters: “I’ve seen no evidence, heard no evidence, to support any of those allegations.
“What I am focused on is what we’re doing to deal with the number one priority of the British people, which is coming through Covid,” he said on a visit to a medical clinic in southwest England.
Johnson refused to confirm his aides’ assertion that he would fight any no-confidence vote and not comment further on the dramatic defection of Conservative MP Christian Wakeford to the Labour party on Wednesday.
The alleged intimidation campaign includes threats to withdraw funding from rebels’ constituencies, and to leak damaging stories to the media.
Wakeford said he had been told his seat in northwest England could lose a school if he did not fall into line.
Prior to Wragg’s explosive intervention, Johnson allies had been talking up the prime minister’s chances of survival, after Wakeford’s cross-party switch focused Tory minds on the threat from a resurgent Labour opposition.
The program will help “companies move away from simply measuring how long people are ‘at work’, to a sharper focus on the output being produced…reports Asian Lite News
The dream of spending less time at work without a pay cut is about to become a reality for more employees.
The UK pilot of a four-day work week will begin in June with about 30 companies that have so far signed up for the trial. The six-month long program will see firms allowing staff to work 32 hours per week while leaving their compensation and benefits unchanged.
Companies may ask staff to spread the 32 hours over five days.
“Moving to a four-day week would be a win-win for companies,” Joe Ryle, director of the Four Day Week Campaign in the UK, said Tuesday in a phone interview. “Studies have shown that productivity improves along with corresponding gains in workers’ well-being.”
The pilot in the UK is one of several worldwide being run by 4 Day Week Global, which advocates for the shorter week. Similar programs are set to start in the US and Ireland, with more planned for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Ryle said.
Apart from the focus on productivity, researchers will measure the impact on workers’ wellbeing and assess the program’s effect on the environment and gender equality, 4 Day Week Global said in a statement.
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The program will help “companies move away from simply measuring how long people are ‘at work’, to a sharper focus on the output being produced,” said Joe O’Connor, a pilot programme manager for the campaign.
