Government
The latest news, updates and analysis on the government and what it is doing that affects the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Dec- 2020 -11 December
No-Deal Brexit could see UK face £3bn tariff ‘bombshell’
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that UK supermarkets and their customers could face a £3.1bn tariff “bombshell” on groceries unless a Brexit deal is agreed with the EU in the coming days. The trade body warned that without a deal, this increase in tariffs will “leave retailers with…
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Oct- 2020 -8 October
New Covid-19 restrictions hit city-centre hospitality hardest
The impact of schools starting and government Covid-19 restrictions hit city centre hospitality and retail the hardest, a study has found. According to Springboard, a retail and hospitality research company, footfall rebounded in September having dropped by 28.2% in August. The recent slump in footfall is a consequence of the…
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1 October
Retail coalition calls for government inquiry on retail violence
Several retail trade bodies have formed a coalition to call on parliament to launch an inquiry on retail violence, in a letter published yesterday (30 September). The British Retail Consortium, the Association of Convenience Stores, Usdaw and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents wrote to Yvette Cooper MP, chair of…
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Sep- 2020 -17 September
Government extends commercial eviction ban until end of year
The government has decided to extend its commercial property eviction ban until the end of 2020. Businesses have been shielded from eviction over the last six months through the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria, which was originally set to end on 1 October. Retail and hospitality trade associations, including…
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10 September
Government launches new ‘bounce back’ plan for retailers
A new series of measures has been announced by the UK Government to support businesses in the consumer and retail industries during the Covid-19 pandemic. The plans, announced by Minister for exports Graham Stuart, will offer immediate support to businesses by ensuring specialists provide advice on online retail and international…
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Jul- 2020 -10 July
Usdaw ‘disappointed’ PM fails to back shop worker protection law
Retail trade union Usdaw has criticised the prime minister for failing to back a new law to protect shop workers from violence. The trade union has called for a firm commitment from the government to take all available actions to tackle the issue. The news comes as Usdaw revealed one…
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8 July
Government to crack down on violence against shopworkers
The government has vowed to crack down on violence and abuse against shopworkers. In a statement, yesterday the Home Office said it will work with National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on a best practice guide to support staff in reporting these crimes, strengthening and making full use of existing…
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Apr- 2020 -21 April
Companies House suspends strike-offs amid Covid-19 crisis
Companies House has announced it has temporarily paused its strike off process to prevent companies being dissolved amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The government announced changes to Companies House enforcement last week (16 April), which gives businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak the time they need to update their records and…
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20 April
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme portal goes live
The portal for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now live, with the government saying that businesses with validated claims will receive payments within at least six days. Under the scheme announced last month, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to…
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Mar- 2020 -6 March
CMA urges retailers to ‘behave responsibly’ amid Coronavirus panic
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has urged retailers to not “take advantage of people” and “exploit” the current Coronavirus situation. It said it will consider any evidence that companies have “broken competition or consumer protection law” by hiking prices or making misleading claims about protective equipment. The CMA will…
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